Secret Trident Meetings, Claims of Millions Exchanged: Fresh Questions Raised Over PCF Boss Mohammed Sahal’s Role in Insurance Battle

A bitter dispute surrounding the collapse of Trident Insurance Company has taken a dramatic new turn after directors linked to the insurer accused Policyholders Compensation Fund (PCF) Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Sahal of engaging in secret meetings with company officials before the firm’s troubles escalated.

The accusations, which have surfaced amid an ongoing fight over compensation payouts and regulatory actions, have intensified scrutiny over the handling of one of Kenya’s most closely watched insurance failures.

Sources familiar with the matter claim that senior figures from Trident Insurance held several private meetings with Sahal and members of his inner circle while the insurer was still operational. Among the officials frequently mentioned by insiders are PCF Director of Legal Affairs James Njogu, Director of Compensation and Insurance Risk Monitoring Douglas Mburia, and Noel Zuma, who is said to have been involved in discussions surrounding the troubled insurer.

At the heart of the controversy are allegations that substantial sums of money changed hands during efforts to secure protection or intervention for Trident as pressure mounted from regulators. Those allegations have not been independently verified.

The accusations emerge as Trident directors increasingly question the speed and manner in which PCF has moved to compensate policyholders following regulatory intervention against the company.

The insurer has long been associated with prominent businessman Diamond Hasham Lalji, whose business empire spans flour milling, manufacturing, real estate, steel production and insurance.

Lalji’s interests include Premier Flour Mills, Atta Kenya, Hasham Lalji Properties and several other companies operating across multiple sectors. Over the years, he has weathered numerous commercial disputes, including high-profile battles over family-owned businesses and multimillion-shilling property conflicts.

Supporters of Lalji argue that the pressure facing Trident is part of a broader campaign targeting influential industry players. Some allege the insurer’s troubles could ultimately benefit competitors such as Amaco seeking greater dominance in Kenya’s insurance market. No evidence has been publicly produced to support those claims.

The controversy comes as PCF continues processing claims from Trident policyholders following the firm’s placement under statutory management.

In a public notice issued in May, the fund announced that compensation payments had commenced in April under provisions of the Insurance Act and the Policyholders Compensation Fund Regulations. Eligible claimants were directed to submit applications through an online portal, with compensation capped at Sh100,000 per claim.

However, critics of the process have raised concerns about verification mechanisms and oversight of claims submitted through the digital platform. PCF has maintained that all applications undergo review before compensation is approved.

The dispute has also revived memories of the collapse of Resolution Insurance, where court proceedings questioned actions taken by PCF before liquidation processes were fully completed.

In that case, the High Court ruled that certain financial decisions relating to company funds could not be undertaken once liquidation had commenced, reinforcing the authority of appointed liquidators. The judgment has since become a reference point in debates over the limits of PCF’s powers when handling distressed insurers.

Trident directors now argue that similar questions should be asked about the management of their company.

Beyond Trident, Sahal’s office has been involved in matters concerning several troubled insurers that have either collapsed or entered liquidation, including Corporate Insurance Company, KUSCCO Mutual Assurance Limited, Blue Shield Insurance, Standard Assurance, Concord Insurance, United Insurance and Xplico Insurance.

The growing controversy has now placed Sahal and the compensation fund under an uncomfortable spotlight, with critics demanding greater transparency regarding interactions between regulators, compensation officials and struggling insurers before they collapse.

As compensation payments continue and legal battles simmer in the background, the Trident saga is rapidly becoming one of the most politically and commercially sensitive insurance disputes Kenya has witnessed in recent years.