Professional Indemnity Insurance in Kenya for Civil Engineers, Architects & Quantity Surveyors
If you’re a civil engineer, architect, or quantity surveyor working in Kenya, you need to know about Professional Indemnity Insurance. This type of insurance protects you when things go wrong in your work – and trust us, even the best professionals can face problems.
Let’s break down everything you need to know about PI insurance in simple terms.
Key Takeaways
- Professional Indemnity Insurance is mandatory for registered engineers, architects, and quantity surveyors in Kenya
- PI insurance protects you from financial losses due to professional mistakes or negligence
- Coverage typically includes legal defense costs and compensation payments to clients
- Premium costs depend on your experience, project sizes, and claims history
- Working with an insurance broker like Step by Step can save you time and money
Table of Contents
- What is Professional Indemnity Insurance?
- Why Do You Need PI Insurance in Kenya?
- Who Needs This Insurance?
- What Does PI Insurance Actually Cover?
- What PI Insurance Doesn’t Cover
- How Much Coverage Do You Need?
- How Much Does It Cost?
- Where to Get PI Insurance in Kenya
- How Step by Step Partners with Kenya’s Best Insurers
- Tips to Avoid Claims
- What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
- Final Thoughts
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Join Our WhatsApp GroupWhat is Professional Indemnity Insurance?
Think of Professional Indemnity Insurance (PI Insurance) as a safety net for your career. It protects you if a client says you made a mistake in your professional work and wants you to pay for the damage.
Here’s a simple example: Imagine you’re an architect who designed a building. Two years later, water starts leaking through the walls because of a design flaw you missed. The building owner is angry and wants you to pay for repairs – which could cost millions of shillings. Without Professional Indemnity insurance, you’d have to pay from your own pocket. With PI insurance, your policy covers these costs.
Why Do You Need PI Insurance in Kenya?
It’s Often Required by Law
In Kenya, if you want to practice as a registered engineer, architect, or quantity surveyor, you usually need PI insurance. The Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) and the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS) require it before they give you a license to work.
If you want to work on government projects, the National Construction Authority also checks whether you have proper insurance coverage.
It Protects Your Money and Career
Construction and design projects in Kenya can be worth millions – sometimes billions – of shillings. If something goes wrong and you’re held responsible, the costs can destroy your savings and even your career. PI insurance makes sure one mistake doesn’t ruin your life’s work.
Clients Trust You More
When you have PI insurance, clients know you’re serious about your work. It shows you’re prepared to take responsibility if problems happen. This makes it easier to win contracts, especially big ones.
Who Needs This Insurance?
| Profession | Specializations Covered | Typical Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineers | Structural engineers, Road and highway engineers, Water and drainage engineers, Soil and foundation experts | Design errors, Calculation mistakes, Construction oversight |
| Architects | Building designers, Landscape architects, Urban planners | Design flaws, Code violations, Project management errors |
| Quantity Surveyors | Cost consultants, Project managers who handle budgets, Building surveyors | Cost estimation errors, Budget management mistakes, Contract administration errors |
What Does PI Insurance Actually Cover?
Mistakes in Your Work
The main thing PI insurance covers is professional mistakes. This could be:
- Design errors that cause problems during construction
- Wrong calculations that lead to structural issues
- Bad advice that costs your client money
- Missing important details in your plans
Legal Costs
If a client takes you to court, PI insurance pays for your lawyers. Legal fees in Kenya can quickly add up to hundreds of thousands of shillings – even if you win the case.
Financial Losses
When your mistake costs a client money, your insurance compensates them. For example, if your wrong cost estimate makes a project go over budget by KES 5 million, your insurance can cover that loss.
What PI Insurance Doesn’t Cover
It’s important to know the limits. PI insurance won’t cover:
- Deliberate wrongdoing: If you knew something was wrong and did it anyway
- Criminal activities: Breaking the law intentionally
- Property damage: If your equipment damages someone’s property (that’s a different insurance)
- Employee injuries: Worker accidents need different coverage
- Problems you knew about before buying insurance: You can’t buy insurance after you already know there’s a problem
How Much Coverage Do You Need?
The amount depends on several things:
Your Project Sizes
If you typically work on projects worth KES 10 million, you need less coverage than someone handling KES 500 million projects. A good rule is to have coverage worth at least 2-3 times your biggest project value.
Legal Minimums
Professional boards in Kenya often require minimum coverage amounts. For most professionals, this ranges from KES 5 million to KES 50 million depending on your work type and experience.
Client Requirements
Big clients, especially government bodies and international companies, often demand specific coverage amounts before hiring you. Some won’t work with you unless you have at least KES 20 million in coverage.
How Much Does It Cost?
The good news is that PI insurance is more affordable than many professionals think.
What Affects Your Price
Your premium depends on:
- How many years you’ve been working
- The size of projects you handle
- Your claims history (past problems increase costs)
- How much coverage you want
- Your specific profession (some have higher risks)
Where to Get PI Insurance in Kenya
Several insurance companies in Kenya offer PI insurance:
| Insurance Company | Special Notes | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| APA Insurance | Strong presence in engineering sector | Visit their website or branches nationwide |
| Britam | Comprehensive professional lines | Multiple branches in major towns |
| CIC Insurance | Competitive rates for new professionals | Wide branch network |
| Jubilee Insurance | Long-standing reputation | Head office in Nairobi |
| UAP Insurance | Part of Old Mutual Group | Nairobi and major towns |
| Madison Insurance | Specialized engineering policies | Growing presence in Kenya |
| ICEA Lion | Strong financial backing | Multiple service points |
Choosing the Right Company
Don’t just pick the cheapest option. Consider:
- How fast they handle claims
- Their customer service reputation
- Whether they understand construction industry risks
- Payment flexibility (can you pay monthly or quarterly?)
How Step by Step Partners with Kenya’s Best Insurers to Find Your Perfect Coverage
Shopping for PI insurance can feel overwhelming. Which company offers the best rates? Who has the fastest claims process? What coverage limits do you really need? These questions can take weeks to answer if you contact each insurer individually.
That’s where Step by Step comes in.
We Do the Hard Work for You
Step by Step is an insurance brokerage that partners with all major insurance companies in Kenya. Instead of you calling 10 different insurers, we bring all their options to you in one place.
Step 1: Tell Us About Your Work
You fill out one simple form telling us about your profession, experience, project sizes, and coverage needs. This takes about 5-10 minutes.
Step 2: We Compare All Options
Our team contacts multiple insurance companies on your behalf. We compare their:
- Premium prices
- Coverage terms
- Claim settlement records
- Payment options
- Additional benefits
Step 3: You Get Personalized Recommendations
Within 24-48 hours, we present you with 3-5 best options tailored to your specific needs. We explain each option in plain language – no confusing insurance terms.
Step 4: We Help You Choose
Not sure which option is best? Our experienced advisors walk you through each policy, answering all your questions. We help you understand what you’re getting for your money.
Step 5: Easy Purchase and Support
Once you choose, we handle all the paperwork. We also stay with you throughout the year – if you need to file a claim or have questions, we’re just a phone call away.
Why Work with Step by Step?
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Save Time | Instead of spending weeks contacting different insurers, you get all options in days. We know the market inside out and have established relationships with every major insurer. |
| Save Money | Because we compare multiple insurers, you see who offers the best rates for your specific situation. Our clients typically save 15-30% compared to buying directly. |
| Expert Advice | Insurance policies can be confusing. Our team includes experts who understand construction industry risks. We speak your language and explain everything clearly. |
| No Extra Cost | Our service is free for you. Insurance companies pay us a commission, so you get expert help without any additional fees. You pay the same premium whether you buy directly or through us. |
| Ongoing Support | Insurance isn’t “buy it and forget it.” We review your coverage annually to make sure it still fits your needs as your career grows. If you need to make a claim, we guide you through every step. |
| Local Understanding | We understand the Kenyan construction industry. We know what EBK and BORAQS require. We understand local building challenges. This means we recommend coverage that actually works in Kenya – not generic policies. |
Getting Started Is Easy
Ready to find your perfect PI insurance? Here’s what to do:
- Visit our website or call our office numbers
- Fill out a quick form about your work and needs
- Get personalized quotes within 2 days
- Choose your policy with our expert guidance
- Start working with confidence knowing you’re protected
Contact Step by Step Insurance
Get expert advice and compare quotes from all major Kenyan insurers.
Call Us
+254 (0) 729 712 200
+254 (0) 716 534 192
Email/Website
Get Quote
Questions? We Have Answers
Our team loves helping professionals find the right coverage. Whether you’re a recent graduate getting your first policy or an experienced consultant upgrading coverage, we’re here to help.
Common questions we answer daily:
- “Which insurer is best for architects?”
- “Can I pay monthly instead of annually?”
- “What happens if I switch from one company to another?”
- “How much coverage does BORAQS actually require?”
- “Will this policy cover me for government projects?”
Don’t let insurance confusion slow down your career. Let Step by Step simplify the process and find you the best protection at the best price.
Tips to Avoid Claims
While insurance protects you, it’s better to avoid problems altogether:
Keep Good Records
Save all emails, meeting notes, and project documents. If a problem happens years later, these records prove what you actually said and did.
Use Clear Contracts
Make sure your client agreements clearly state what you will and won’t do. This prevents misunderstandings about your responsibilities.
Stay Updated
Attend training sessions and keep learning. Building codes and standards change, and you need to stay current.
Double-Check Your Work
Have another professional review important calculations and designs. Two pairs of eyes catch more mistakes than one.
Communicate Clearly
If you spot a potential problem, tell your client immediately in writing. Don’t wait and hope it goes away.
What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
If a client complains or threatens to sue:
- Don’t panic – this is why you have insurance
- Don’t admit fault – let your insurer investigate first
- Contact your insurance company immediately – even if you’re not sure it’s a real claim (if you bought through Step by Step, call us first and we’ll coordinate with the insurer)
- Gather all documents related to the project
- Don’t discuss the issue on social media or with others
Your insurance company will assign someone to handle the case. They’ll investigate, negotiate with the client, and defend you if necessary.
Final Thoughts
Professional Indemnity Insurance isn’t just a piece of paper – it’s your career protection. In Kenya’s growing construction industry, with massive infrastructure projects happening everywhere, the risks are real.
Whether you’re designing the next skyscraper in Nairobi, planning a highway in Kisumu, or estimating costs for affordable housing in Nakuru, mistakes can happen. PI insurance makes sure one error doesn’t end your career.
The small annual cost of insurance is nothing compared to the millions you could lose without it. Plus, it’s often required to get your professional license and win good contracts.
Ready to protect your career? Contact Step by Step today for a free, no-obligation quote. Our team will compare all major insurers in Kenya and find you the best coverage at the best price. We make insurance simple so you can focus on what you do best – your professional work.
Remember: The best time to get insurance is before you need it. Don’t wait until a problem happens – by then, it’s too late.
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