I Bought a Smartphone and Got Free Hospital Cash Insurance for a Year

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is part of our Money254 Partner Series produced in partnership with M-KOPA to mark the launch of their latest device - the M-KOPA X20.

Last week, I was catching up on a Chelsea match on my phone while waiting for clients at our Boda base. My colleague Omosh interrupted me with some tough news: our friend Juma was detained at a local hospital because he couldn’t pay his medical bill.

Joining yet another WhatsApp fundraising group for a fellow rider in need made me reflect on how fortunate I was just a few weeks ago when I faced my crisis.

A Night Gone Wrong

It was a Friday night, and the city was winding down. I was ready to call it a day when two young men flagged me down. It seemed like an easy final trip before heading home, but it turned out to be anything but.

We arrived at their destination—a quiet, dimly lit street. As they disembarked, my instincts told me something wasn’t right. Before I knew it, they pulled out crude weapons and demanded my boda. I refused to give in, and a struggle ensued. They beat me mercilessly, taking my wallet and breaking my phone screen, but I managed to hold on to my boda.

I was rushed to the hospital, and as the adrenaline wore off, the real pain set in—not just physical, but financial. I was stuck in a hospital bed, unable to work, with bills piling up and a family depending on me. That’s when I remembered something that felt like a lifeline.

An Unexpected Lifesaver

In June, I lost my old phone when it fell off my bike. With only Ksh10,000 in my account and rent due, I had to make a tough choice: buy a new phone or pay rent. After weighing my options and talking to friends, I decided on the M-KOPA X20, which came highly recommended because of its daily internet bundles.

When I bought the X20, I was sold on the affordable payment plan—just a small deposit and Ksh95 a day. The insurance that came with it was an afterthought, something I didn’t pay attention to.

Note: M-KOPA has since updated the daily instalments to Ksh92.

But there I was, in a hospital bed, realizing just how valuable that “afterthought” was. My X20 came with Free Hospital Cash Insurance, offering up to Ksh30,000. I wasn’t just facing a tough situation; I had a way to get through it.

Learn more about M-KOPA’s Free Hospital Cash Insurance

And get smart with your phone, money and health.

Also Read: Is the M-KOPA X20 Really Value for Money?

Light at the End of the Tunnel

After three days in the hospital, my wife had to borrow money from her chama to help cover the bills. Being off the road meant no income, and the stress was mounting. But then I remembered the hospital cover that came with my phone.

I reached out to Turaco to make a claim, and they paid out Ksh3,000—Ksh1,000 for each night I spent in the hospital. This money helped cushion my family from the lost income and allowed us to pay off part of the debt we had taken on. The claims process was smooth and straightforward, thanks to Turaco.

But that wasn’t the end of it. My phone’s screen had been damaged during the attempted robbery. I reported the incident to the police and shared the documents with M-KOPA. For just Ksh1,000, I got a new screen and my X20 was as good as new, ready to get back to work.

Click here to learn more about M-KOPA’s Free Hospital Cash Insurance and device protection.

Get smart with your phone, money and health.

The Silver Lining

Now, as I think about the fundraisers for my friends, I can’t help but wonder how different their experiences might have been if they’d known about the M-KOPA X20. This phone has been more than just a tool for work; it’s been a smart choice and a lifeline when I needed it most.

With the M-KOPA X20, I got more than just a smartphone—I got peace of mind. 

If you’re ready to experience the difference, learn more about the M-KOPA X20’s benefits here.

Get smart with your phone, money and health.