How are premiums calculated?

By annual value of consignments, average load value, route (corridor / domestic / urban), commodity type, and security (GPS tracking, escorted convoys, etc.). Tracked fleets typically attract 10–20% discount.

Is theft from inside a parked truck covered?

Yes if the truck is parked overnight at a secure location declared to the insurer (warehouse, fenced yard with guards). Theft from an unattended truck parked on the street is typically excluded — we make sure clients know the warranty positions.

What documents do I need for a claim?

Police abstract, copy of the consignment note or waybill, invoice or proof of value, photographs of the loss, driver's statement, and (for cross-border claims) the relevant manifest. Vike's claims team gives clients a one-page checklist for in-cab compliance.

Does GIT cover cross-border trips into DRC?

Yes, with a specific cross-border extension. DRC requires careful underwriting because of route risk and document compliance. We confirm cover before any high-value movement into Kasai, Goma, or Lubumbashi.

Business & Commercial Insurance

Goods in Transit Insurance

Covers goods and merchandise against loss or damage while being transported by road, rail, or sea within Kenya and across borders.

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Single-trip or annualRoad, rail & sea coverEast Africa cross-borderAll cargo types

Cross-Border

East Africa Cover

Single-Trip or

Annual Policy

Cross-Border

East Africa Cover

Single-Trip or

Annual Policy

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Goods in Transit (GIT) insurance covers cargo against loss, theft, hijacking, and damage while being moved from one location to another. In Kenya, GIT is essential for distributors, manufacturers, importers, retailers, and own-account hauliers — anyone whose business value travels by road, rail, lake, or sea. The motor policy covers the truck; GIT covers what is in the truck.

Vike places GIT for everything from a single own-fleet delivery van to multi-million-dollar cargo flows on the Mombasa–Nairobi–Kampala corridor and into the DRC, Rwanda, and South Sudan. We structure cover by route, commodity, and value-per-load, and we negotiate excess and warranty wording so claims pay quickly when (not if) something goes wrong on Kenyan roads.

What It Covers

Loss or damage to goods in transit due to accident, fire, or overturn
Theft and hijacking of vehicle or cargo
Loading and offloading losses (subject to policy)
Pilferage during transit (extension; typically with sub-limit)
Damage from rain or seawater ingress on uncovered or breached loads
Costs of forwarding goods to destination after an insured event
Goods in temporary storage during transit (limited extension)
Cross-border cargo across COMESA / EAC corridors (extension)

Who It's For

Manufacturers and distributors moving finished goods to customers
Importers and freight forwarders handling inbound cargo from Mombasa or JKIA
Retail chains restocking branches across Kenya
Commercial hauliers carrying customers' goods (carriers' liability variant)
Construction and project businesses moving materials between sites

Types We Cover

Each profile is rated and underwritten differently. Talk to us so we can match your specific situation.

Own Goods Cover

For businesses moving their own goods in their own vehicles. The simplest and most common GIT structure. Premium based on annual value of consignments.

Carriers' Liability

For hauliers and logistics operators moving other people's goods for hire and reward. Limits the carrier's liability per consignment and per truck. Often required by cargo owners as a condition of contract.

Annual Open Cover

A standing policy that automatically covers each shipment as it occurs. Best for businesses with frequent, varied shipments. Premium adjusts annually based on declarations.

Single Transit / Specific Voyage

One-off cover for a specific high-value shipment. Ideal for capital equipment imports, project cargo, or unusual movements.

Cross-Border GIT

Extended cover for cargo moving across the EAC and COMESA — Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC, South Sudan, Ethiopia. Often paired with a COMESA Yellow Card on the carrying vehicle.

Real-World Scenarios

Hijacking on the Northern Corridor

A tanker is hijacked between Eldoret and Malaba. GIT covers the cargo value (fuel or finished goods) up to the declared sum insured. Police abstract and proof of consignment value are required. Cross-border tracker data accelerates claim adjudication.

Overturned lorry damages perishable cargo

A refrigerated truck overturns near Naivasha. GIT cover settles the spoiled cargo at invoice value (or as otherwise agreed) less the excess. Where temperature control is critical, we add a refrigeration breakdown extension to the cover.

Pilferage on multiple deliveries

A distributor discovers stock shortages on routine deliveries to retail customers. Pilferage cover (a specific extension with a sub-limit) handles the loss provided it is reported within the time limits and supported by stocktake evidence. Without the extension, casual pilferage is excluded.

Optional Benefits & Add-ons

Pilferage and shortage cover

Refrigeration breakdown for cold-chain cargo

Loading and unloading risks

Cross-border (COMESA / EAC) extension

Strike, riot, and civil commotion cover

Forwarding charges after an insured event

Availability varies by underwriter. Our advisors will confirm what is available on your chosen policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The motor policy covers the vehicle and third-party liability only. Cargo is excluded and requires a separate Goods in Transit policy. This is the single most common coverage gap among Kenyan transporters.