Heshima Farewell Plan: Britam and Montezuma’s End-to-End Funeral Solution
Losing a loved one can be a dounting experience for anyone and more than often, the emotional pain is often compounded by a massive, unexpected financial hit. With the cost of funerals in urban areas frequently running way over KSh 300,000, many families are left scrambling to come up with the cash for things like mortuary fees and logistics, and end up turning to WhatsApp groups to hold harambees and emergency loans just so they can manage the process.
To address this problem, Britam Connect (the insurance arm of Britam Holdings) has teamed up with Montezuma Funeral Home to launch the Heshima Farewell Plan. Unlike the usual "last-expense" insurance policies that just pay out a lump sum, this plan takes a more holistic approach. It provides a fully-managed service solution that takes the headache out of planning a funeral, so families don't have to worry about scrounging around for hearses or negotiating the price of a casket while they're still grieving.
A Service-First Approach: More Than Just a Payout
Where Heshima Farewell Plan excels compared to existing plans, is that it's moving from a "cash check" insurance model to a more comprehensive "managed service". By partnering with Montezuma Funeral Home, it means that families don't have to worry about the logistics of a funeral - from getting a hearse to finding the right casket or organizing a chapel service. That's a huge weight off family member's shoulders when they're already dealing with their loss.
Depending on the plan you choose, the Heshima Farewell Plan will cover:
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Transportation: Hearse services to anywhere in Kenya - and if you're looking for a bit more luxury, higher-tier plans come with the option of a limo.
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Professional Services: That's mortuary fees, chapel services and all the preparation of the deceased taken care of.
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Funeral Materials: You get a nice casket, some fresh flowers, a funeral programme and an enlarged portrait of your loved one.
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Publicity: They'll even help with getting an obituary in the national newspapers.
Choice and Affordability for Every Budget
The good news is that the Heshima Farewell Plan has been approved by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) and it's been designed to be flexible - so it's not just for rich people. It's also been tiered, so that low-income earners can afford it, while still giving people who want to go all out for a loved one the option to do so.
Heshima Farewell Plan Tiers (2026)
Note: These are annual premiums, which makes the cheapest plan work out at less than KSh 85 per month.
| Cover Level | Annual Premium (KSh) | Benefit Amount (KSh) |
| Basic | 1,000 | 100,000 |
| Standard | 1,400 | 150,000 |
| Executive | 1,700 | 300,000 |
| Premium | 1,850 | 500,000 |
The Extended Family Covered
Given how important family is in Kenyan culture, the Heshima Farewell Plan has been designed to cover your entire extended family unit - not just you and your partner.
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Principal & Spouse: You and your partner can both be covered from 18 to 70 years old, with the policy renewable up to 80.
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Children: Your kids are covered from one month old right up to 18 (and even 25 if they're still a student).
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Parents & In-laws: It's great that the plan also covers your parents and in-laws - they can be covered up to 80, with coverage continuing until 85.
Waiting Periods: Preventing Abuse
To stop people gaming the system, the plan has got a waiting period, which will vary depending on how quickly you take out the policy and what plan you choose. In the case of accidental death, you're covered right away, but for natural death you'll have to wait anywhere from one to six months.
Why this Matters for 2026
The Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) reckons that the middle class typically spend anything between KSh 50,000 and KSh 300,000 on funerals - which can leave people bleeding their savings dry. That's why the Heshima Farewell Plan is such a good thing - it aims to take some of that pressure off by letting people plan for the unexpected, so families can focus on grieving without worrying about the next bill.
"You know, with the Heshima Farewell Plan, we want to make it easier for people to plan for the unexpected, so families can focus on grieving without worrying about whether they can cover the funeral costs."
— Evah Kimani, CEO and Principal Officer, Britam Connect.
By bringing the logistics and the financing together in one neat package, the Heshima Farewell Plan is trying to bring a bit of dignity and a sense of peace to a really difficult time, and make the final journey of a loved one one that's not defined by debt.
