Political Violence & Terrorism (PVT) Insurance
Covers business assets and operations against loss from riot, strike, terrorism, sabotage, civil commotion, and political violence in Kenya and the region.
Political Violence and Terrorism (PVT) is a specialist class covering loss to business assets and operations arising from acts of terrorism, sabotage, riot, strike, civil commotion, insurrection, and similar political-violence events. Standard Fire and IAR policies cover only the lower end of this spectrum (riot and strike are usually included; full terrorism and sabotage are explicitly excluded) — PVT plugs the gap that has become economically critical in Kenya since 2010.
Vike places PVT for businesses with significant assets in central business districts, near key infrastructure, along corridor routes, and in border counties — anywhere the realistic exposure profile justifies dedicated cover. The product is also frequently required by lenders, joint-venture partners, and multinational headquarters as a condition of investment or operation in the region. We work with local insurers fronting Lloyd's-led reinsurance capacity to secure cover at reasonable terms.
What It Covers
Acts of terrorism — bombing, armed attack, sabotage
Acts of sabotage by political or ideological actors
Riot, strike, and civil commotion (when included as a peril)
Insurrection, rebellion, and revolution (per policy wording)
Damage to buildings, plant, stock, and contents
Business interruption following an insured PVT event
Denial of access to premises following a nearby PVT incident (extension)
Third-party liability arising from a PVT event (subject to wording)
Who It's For
Businesses with offices or operations in Nairobi CBD, Westlands, Upperhill
Banks, hotels, malls, and other public-access venues
Diplomatic-adjacent and high-profile commercial properties
Logistics and corridor businesses (Mombasa–Nairobi–Kampala)
Border-county operations (Garissa, Lamu, Mandera, Wajir)
Multinationals with regional HQ in Kenya as part of group risk policy
Types We Cover
Each profile is rated and underwritten differently. Talk to us so we can match your specific situation.
Property Damage Only
Covers physical damage to assets following a PVT event. The cheapest PVT entry point. Standard pairing with IAR.
Property + Business Interruption
Adds loss of profits and standing charges for the period the business is interrupted by a PVT event. Critical for revenue-dependent businesses where the interruption cost typically exceeds the physical damage.
Denial of Access / Loss of Attraction
Covers loss where a nearby PVT event prevents access to the premises — common for retailers, hotels, and venues even if the property itself is not directly damaged. Specifically wording-dependent.
Active Assailant
Specific cover for active-shooter or armed-attack incidents on the premises. Includes counselling, security upgrade costs, and trauma response. Increasingly bought by schools, hospitals, and public venues.
Combined Political Risk
Bundles PVT with country-level political risks (expropriation, currency inconvertibility, contract frustration) for businesses with cross-border investment exposure. Lloyd's-led product placed through specialist brokers.
Real-World Scenarios
Bomb damage to a CBD office building
Vibration damage from a nearby attack damages glass, fittings, and IT infrastructure at the policyholder's office. PVT settles the property damage; standard IAR would have excluded the cause. Business interruption section pays the lost trading days during restoration.
Riot causes looting at a city-centre store
Riot and strike are typically covered under standard IAR — but where the policy excludes 'malicious damage by political actors' or similar, PVT plugs the gap. We always review IAR exclusions in tandem with PVT placement so the two work together.
Denial of access following a nearby incident
A hotel close to a security incident is cordoned off by police for 5 days. Revenue lost to cancellations and disrupted operations is covered under the denial-of-access extension — even though the hotel itself suffered no physical damage. Wording is everything; we draft this extension carefully.
Optional Benefits & Add-ons
Business Interruption following PVT event
Denial of access / loss of attraction extension
Active assailant / mass casualty event
Trauma counselling and crisis management costs
Reputation and brand damage cover
Cross-border PVT for regional operations
Availability varies by underwriter. Our advisors will confirm what is available on your chosen policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
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