By Fred Okoth.

110 news insurance agents from Migori county last month graduated after successfully completing a two weeks certificate course in insurance at Migori Teachers Training College.

Speaking during the passing out, Director Kenya College of Insurance Stephen Ojwang urged the students to make good use of the information they had received to earn an honest livelihood.

“We have trained you well and we expect you to stick by the insurance ethics,” he said adding that it was important that the agenst did their work honestly to serve kenyans well.

During the passing put, each member of the group, composed of 65 males and 35 females selected from the eight sub-counties making Migori County received their certificates allowing them to operate as insurance agents.

Speaking at the same function, The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) director Dr. Stephen Mianda has announced an ambitious plan to train at least one hundred new insurance agents in each county across the country in an effort aimed at increasing the number of Kenyans insured.

According to Dr. Mainda, the plan, which is expected to be completed within the next four year, will be expected to increase the number of Kenyans on insurance from the current percentage of 3% to about 10%.

“We have decided to fully sponsor these trainings,” he said adding that the training of each agent was done at a cost of 50,000 shillings and that so far, the body had conducted trainings in eight counties.

According to Dr. Mainda, Kenya was currently ranked at position two in terms of percentage of population insured and said the agency was keen to ensure that the agents were trained on ethics to enable them carry out their work ethically.

Speaking at the same function, Migori County deputy governor Nelson Mahanga Mwita has challenged insurance companies to open their branches in vast unexploited Migori County

“A large number of employees and the business community within Migori County have not yet taken insurance policies and that is an opportunity,” he said adding that the current system of devolution calls for all organizations and companies to devolve to the counties so that residents can also benefit at the grass root level

He further appealed to the insurance companies to introduce different insurance products which will be relevant to the employees, businessmen and residents of Migori County.

He challenged the graduating students to use prudently the skills and knowledge gained from the two weeks training course to change their lives to prosperity

He thanked IRA for sponsoring the students to complete their course adding that the move has given hope to the lives of young men and women who will now be employed by different insurance companies

The function was also attended by Catherine Irungu IRA Technical Manager, Rosemary Kavuli IRA Corporate Communications officer, Migori County Assembly deputy speaker Boaz Okoth among other leaders.