People can lose contact with a bank, former employer, SACCO, insurer or investment provider after changing jobs, moving home or replacing a phone number. In some cases, financial assets that remain unclaimed are reported and transferred to Kenya’s Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA).
That does not mean every person will have an asset in the system. A search is only a way to check whether information reported by a holder may be connected to you or to a person whose estate you are legally handling. This page is an independent information guide. It does not process searches, verify identities, submit claims or promise a payment. Use the official UFAA channels for any personal enquiry.
What Are Unclaimed Financial Assets in Kenya?
An unclaimed financial asset is generally an asset that has remained unpaid, inactive or unclaimed for the period set by the applicable rules and has been reported by the institution responsible for holding it. The institution is often called the holder. It may be a bank, insurer, SACCO, company, pension-related provider or another organization that holds money or property for an owner.
UFAA is not a new social benefit and a search is not an application for government assistance. It is an official process for locating and administering financial assets that have been reported as unclaimed. The information shown in a search must still be checked against the holder’s records and the claimant’s documents.
What Types of Assets May Become Unclaimed?
Depending on the asset and the reporting information, the system may include records connected with:
You will leave this site for the official service. Check the address before entering personal information.
Before you continue
This guide explains the official route, but it cannot search records, verify identity, submit a claim or guarantee a result.
- old bank accounts or balances;
- SACCO funds;
- insurance proceeds or unclaimed death benefits;
- pension-related assets or payments;
- shares and dividends;
- unit trusts and other investment records;
- safe-deposit-box assets; and
- assets belonging to a deceased person.
These categories do not mean that a particular reader has an asset. They describe examples of financial records that may become unclaimed when an owner cannot be reached, a payment is not collected or a beneficiary is not identified.
Why Do Financial Assets Become Unclaimed?
There are many ordinary explanations. A customer may move and leave an old address on a bank record. A phone number may change. Someone may close one account and forget another. A former employer may have issued a payment that was never collected, or a dividend may not have reached a shareholder.
Other situations can involve a company closing, an insurance payment that was not collected, or a deceased family member whose accounts and investments were not known to the family. These are possible reasons, not proof that an asset exists and not proof that an institution acted improperly.
Who Should Consider Running an Official Search?
An official search may be worth considering if you or a person whose estate you legally administer:
- held accounts with more than one bank;
- belonged to a SACCO;
- owned shares or expected dividends;
- had an insurance policy or expected an insurance payment;
- worked for several employers;
- expects an old pension-related payment; or
- is legally responsible for handling a deceased relative’s estate.
The purpose of this checklist is to identify situations where an old record could reasonably be worth checking. It is not an eligibility test or a prediction of a result.
How the Official UFAA Search Works
Start with the official UFAA website and use its find-and-claim information. UFAA also identifies official service routes that can include the website, the USSD code *361#, eCitizen and Huduma Centres. The available route and instructions may change, so confirm the current process directly with UFAA before entering personal information.
The general sequence is:
1. Open an official UFAA channel, rather than an advertisement or an unsolicited message.
2. Follow the search instructions and provide information only within that official service.
3. Review whether a possible record is shown.
4. If a record appears, confirm the original holder and the type of asset.
5. Read the claim instructions for the correct claimant category.
A search result is not the same as an approved claim. Names, addresses and other details may be incomplete or outdated, and UFAA may request evidence before deciding how the record can be handled. Do not use this page to submit an ID number, KRA PIN, bank account number or any other personal data.
What Happens When a Record Is Found?
When an official search appears to identify a possible record, the next step is normally to confirm the institution that originally held the asset. The claimant then reviews the appropriate UFAA instructions, selects the correct claim category, completes the required forms and supplies the supporting documents requested by the Authority.
The process may include confirmation from the original holder, document certification, submission through the official service and tracking of the claim. UFAA’s instructions state that claimants should indicate a preferred payment method and that the Authority does not make payments in cash. A payment is not guaranteed merely because a search produces a possible match; approval depends on the official review.
Claiming as the Original Owner
For a living original owner, UFAA’s published instructions may require an original-owner claim form, an indemnity agreement and an official letter from the holder confirming that the asset was remitted to the Authority. They may also request a certified national identity card or passport, a KRA PIN certificate and payment details.
The exact requirements depend on the asset and the facts of the case. For example, an insurance-related claim may involve an original policy document or an affidavit if the document is lost. If names differ across records, an affidavit or other clarification may be required. Use the current instructions on the official UFAA website and do not send these documents to an advertising page.
Claiming on Behalf of a Deceased Relative
A person who is not the original owner must show a legal basis for making the claim. Being a relative does not automatically establish the right to receive an asset. UFAA’s beneficiary and deceased-case instructions may include a beneficiary claim form, an indemnity agreement, the holder’s confirmation, the claimant’s identification, a death certificate and succession documents.
Examples of succession documents can include a Certificate of Confirmation of Grant from the High Court of Kenya or a Certificate of Summary Administration issued through the recognized authority. The correct documents depend on the estate and the claimant’s legal role. This guide is not legal advice. If the estate documents are unclear, follow UFAA’s official instructions and obtain appropriate professional guidance.
How to Avoid Unclaimed Asset Scams
Unclaimed-asset topics can attract fake agents and misleading messages. Use these basic precautions:
- use the official UFAA website, eCitizen, a verified UFAA service route or a Huduma Centre;
- do not pay someone who promises a guaranteed result or a guaranteed amount;
- do not send identity documents, KRA PIN details or bank information to an advertising page;
- treat unsolicited messages saying that money has already been approved with caution;
- do not confuse a possible search match with an approved claim; and
- confirm any request directly with UFAA through its published contact details.
The official UFAA process and current document requirements should always take priority over a social-media post, a forwarded message or a third-party “recovery” service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UFAA search free?
UFAA identifies its search and claim service as an official service. Confirm the current instructions directly through UFAA before proceeding, and be cautious if a third party asks for a fee to reveal a guaranteed result.
What kinds of assets can appear?
Possible categories include bank accounts, SACCO funds, insurance proceeds, pension-related assets, shares, dividends, unit trusts, safe-deposit-box assets and assets connected with deceased owners.
Can I search for a deceased relative?
You may be able to search and claim where you have the legal right to act for the estate. A relative relationship alone may not be enough; succession and identity documents can be required.
Is a search result the same as an approved claim?
No. A result may indicate a possible record. UFAA must review the claim, supporting evidence and claimant category before a decision is made.
What documents may be required?
Requirements vary. They can include claim forms, holder confirmation, identification, a KRA PIN certificate, payment details, a death certificate or estate documents. Check the official instructions for the specific case.
Does UFAA pay in cash?
UFAA’s published find-and-claim instructions state that the Authority does not make payments in cash. The claimant should follow the current instructions for an authorized payment method.
How can a claim be tracked?
Use the official UFAA claim-tracking route or contact UFAA through its published channels. Do not rely on a tracker supplied by an unknown intermediary.
What should I do if the holder’s information is outdated?
Keep documents that connect you with the account or asset, review the current UFAA instructions and contact the Authority or original holder through official channels. An outdated address or phone number does not by itself prove ownership.
Use the official source for personal steps
Requirements and portal instructions can change. Follow the current government guidance linked below and do not send personal documents to this page.
Official Information
For current search, claim, tracking and document instructions, use the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority and its Find & Claim page. UFAA also publishes separate instructions for original-owner claims and beneficiary or deceased cases.