How is PL different from Professional Indemnity?

PL covers physical injury or property damage from operations. PI covers financial loss from negligent advice or work. A consulting engineer needs both: PL for someone injured on a site visit, PI for a design error.

What limit should I take?

It depends on your operations and contract requirements. KES 5M is the typical minimum for SME services; KES 25M+ for hospitality, schools, and event businesses; KES 100M+ for manufacturers and major contractors. We benchmark against your contracts.

Are subcontractors covered under my PL?

Sometimes, with an extension, but most policies require independent contractors to carry their own PL and provide a copy. We help draft contract clauses requiring subcontractor PL to protect the main contractor.

What is products liability and do I need it?

Products liability covers injury or damage caused by something you manufactured, sold, or distributed after it left your control. If you sell physical goods — especially food, electronics, cosmetics, or machinery — you almost certainly need products liability alongside PL.

Business & Commercial Insurance

Public Liability Insurance

Covers your legal liability to third parties for bodily injury or property damage arising from your business operations.

Get a Public Liability Quote Talk to an Advisor

3rd party injury + propertyRetail, hospitality, eventsLegal costs includedPremiums from KES 8k/year

From KES 8k

Annual Premium

Legal Costs

Built-in Cover

From KES 8k

Annual Premium

Legal Costs

Built-in Cover

Years Experience

Underwriter Partners

Claims Paid 2024

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Google Rating

Public Liability (PL) insurance pays for legal costs and compensation when a member of the public — a customer, visitor, neighbour, or passer-by — suffers bodily injury or property damage as a result of your business operations and brings a claim against you. It is distinct from Professional Indemnity (which covers negligent advice) and Employers' Liability/WIBA (which covers your own staff).

Even low-risk businesses can face six- and seven-figure PL claims: a visitor slipping on a wet floor and breaking a hip, a contractor damaging a neighbouring property, an event-goer injured by an unsecured speaker. Vike places PL stand-alone or bundled with property, contractors all risks, and WIBA, and we right-size limits to your actual exposure rather than defaulting to insurer book minimums.

What It Covers

Bodily injury to third parties on your premises or as a result of your operations
Damage to third-party property caused by your activities
Legal defence costs in defending claims
Costs and expenses awarded against you in court
Food and drink liability (extension for hospitality)
Tenant's liability for damage to landlord's property (extension)
Sudden and accidental pollution (limited extension)
Worldwide liability for occasional travelling staff (extension)

Who It's For

Retail and hospitality — shops, restaurants, hotels, bars, salons
Schools, gyms, clinics, and other premises with public footfall
Event organisers, conference centres, and entertainment venues
Contractors and tradespeople working on third-party sites
Property owners and landlords with shared or commercial space

Types We Cover

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

Standard Public Liability

Base cover for businesses with normal public exposure. Limits commonly start at KES 5M and scale to KES 100M+ depending on operations. The default for most SMEs.

Products Liability

Often bundled with PL. Covers injury or damage caused by a product after it has left your control — critical for manufacturers, food producers, importers, and distributors.

Contractors' Public Liability

Tailored for tradespeople and contractors working at third-party sites. Often required by main contractors and clients as a condition of award. Routinely paired with Contractors All Risks.

Event Liability

Short-term PL for specific events — conferences, weddings, concerts, sports days. Limits typically KES 10M–50M depending on attendance and venue requirements.

Combined Liability

PL + Products + Employers' Liability under a single policy with one limit and one excess. Cleaner administration for established businesses. Often the most cost-effective structure.

Real-World Scenarios

Customer slips on a wet supermarket floor

The customer breaks a wrist and claims KES 1.8M for medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. PL insurer appoints defence counsel, negotiates settlement at KES 900K, and pays the costs. Without PL, the supermarket pays out of pocket plus its own legal fees.

Contractor's drilling damages a neighbour's water main

Repair of the main and indemnity for the neighbour's flooded basement totals KES 650K. Contractors' PL settles directly with the third party. The main contractor's award conditions remain satisfied.

Restaurant patron sickened by food

Products liability (bundled with PL) covers the medical claim and the legal costs. The restaurant's PL extension for food and drink also picks up any reputational PR costs (subject to wording).

Optional Benefits & Add-ons

Products Liability — for manufacturers and distributors

Food and drink liability extension

Tenant's liability for landlord's premises

Sudden and accidental pollution

Worldwide liability for travelling staff

Cross-liabilities between insured parties

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Not generally, but it is contractually required for many activities — government tenders, commercial tenancies, event permits, and most B2B contracts. Without it, you cannot bid for many opportunities and you carry personal exposure.