Integrated financial services provider Old Mutual Kenya has launched Thrive, a new digital wellness platform designed to address the country’s rising challenges around mental, physical, nutritional, and financial well-being.
The new platform comes at a time when stress, burnout, and lifestyle-related illnesses are taking a toll on productivity and public health. According to data from the Ministry of Health, workplace burnout costs Kenya over KES 50 billion annually in lost productivity, while mental health conditions contribute to an additional KES 62.2 billion in economic losses — equivalent to nearly 0.6% of the national GDP. Estimates show that over 3.7 million Kenyans are currently living with stress-related conditions.
A Holistic, Digital-First Wellness Solution
Old Mutual’s Thrive app integrates wellness across four dimensions — physical, mental, nutritional, and financial — creating what the company calls a “daily digital companion for healthier living.”
“Thrive is more than a wellness tool; it’s a step towards reshaping how we think about everyday health and resilience. Our vision is to empower individuals to take small, consistent steps that lead to lasting change — helping themselves, their families, workplaces, and communities to truly thrive,” said Arthur Oginga, Group CEO, Old Mutual East Africa.
A 2023 Corporate Staffing Services survey revealed that nearly 68% of Kenyan professionals experience burnout symptoms, especially among mid- and senior-level managers. These findings highlight the need for solutions that tackle the intersection of financial strain, physical fatigue, and mental stress.
What Makes Thrive Different
Unlike traditional fitness trackers or budgeting apps, Thrive brings multiple aspects of wellness into a single integrated experience:
- Financial Wellbeing Score: Helps users assess their money habits, savings discipline, and financial planning.
- Mind Score: Enables users to monitor their mental state, complemented by guided breathing, journaling, and gratitude exercises.
- Nutrition Tools: Offers food diaries, meal planning, and healthy recipe recommendations to prevent long-term risks like diabetes and hypertension.
- Behavioural Nudges & Personalized Programs: Provide structured support for sustainable wellness habits across all dimensions of health.
“Thrive positions itself as a daily companion for healthier living by unifying previously fragmented wellness services. It converts everyday lifestyle choices into measurable milestones, making well-being both accessible and rewarding,” added Mr. Oginga.
Supporting Kenya’s Broader Wellness Agenda
Old Mutual developed Thrive as part of its broader digital transformation strategy, with a goal of making wellness support accessible to both individuals and organizations. The app also aligns with Kenya’s growing demand for integrated health and lifestyle solutions amid increasing work-related stress, lifestyle diseases, and financial insecurity.
Through Thrive, Old Mutual aims to empower users to take charge of their wellness journeys while helping businesses reduce employee stress, boost productivity, and improve workplace culture.
