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SHA Registration Kenya 2026 🩺
Complete your SHA registration in Kenya quickly and easily. Register via USSD *147# or the online portal at sha.go.ke. Secure healthcare for you and your family under the Social Health Authority.
⚡ Quick Answer: How Do I Register for SHA in Kenya?
You can register for SHA Kenya in under 10 minutes using two main methods[reference:0]: USSD *147# (no internet required) or online at sha.go.ke (or afyayangu.go.ke)[reference:1][reference:2]. You'll need your National ID and phone number. After registration, add your dependents (spouse, children) and pay your first premium via M-Pesa Paybill 200222 using your ID as the account number[reference:3].
🏥 What is the Social Health Authority (SHA)?
The Social Health Authority (SHA) is the government body established under the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023 to replace the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF)[reference:4][reference:5]. SHA manages health insurance schemes through pooled contributions from employers and individuals to provide quality healthcare services[reference:6].
SHA operates three main funds to ensure comprehensive coverage[reference:7]:
Primary Healthcare Fund — Covers "walk-in" visits to Level 2 (dispensaries) and Level 3 (health centres). Funded by the government and free at the point of use for registered members[reference:8].
Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) — Main cover for hospital admissions and surgeries at larger hospitals (Level 4-6)[reference:9].
Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund — Covers life-threatening emergencies and long-term treatments like dialysis or chemotherapy[reference:10].
Source: Teachers Kenya Hub[reference:11]
👥 Who Needs to Register for SHA?
Registration with SHA is mandatory for all Kenyan residents[reference:12]. This includes:
🇰🇪 Kenyan Citizens
All Kenyan citizens are required to register[reference:13][reference:14]
🛂 Legal Residents
Foreign nationals with valid permits must register[reference:15][reference:16]
👨👩👧👦 Families
Spouses and children must be added as dependents[reference:17]
🏢 Employers
All employers must register employees and remit contributions[reference:18]
⚠️ Important: Unlike the old NHIF system, your family is not automatically covered. You MUST manually add your dependents to your SHA profile. Without this step, your spouse and children won't be able to access treatment under your name[reference:19].
📄 Documents You Need for SHA Registration
Have these documents ready before you start your SHA registration[reference:20][reference:21]:
National ID card (or passport for foreign nationals)
KRA PIN (for adults)
Birth certificates for children and dependents
Passport-sized photo for identification
Marriage certificate (if registering a spouse)
Proof of residence (utility bill or tenancy agreement)
Phone number linked to your ID (for OTP verification)
For children: birth notification or certificate
Source: CityNews Kenya[reference:22], Standard Media[reference:23]
🩺 Ready to register for SHA? Complete your registration in under 10 minutes via USSD *147# or online at sha.go.ke.
Click "Register" and accept the terms and conditions[reference:40]
3
Enter your ID number and the phone number you want linked to your health records[reference:41]
4
Enter the OTP code sent to your phone to verify it's you[reference:42]
5
Create a 4-digit PIN for your account and a digital signature. Upload a passport-size photo and a copy of your ID[reference:43]
6
Fill in your personal details — county, sub-county, ward, employment status, and income details[reference:44]
7
Complete a means test (if self-employed or unemployed) to determine your contribution amount[reference:45]
8
Make your first payment — Pay via M-Pesa Paybill 200222 with your ID as the account number[reference:46]
9
Receive confirmation — Once your payment is received, your registration will be confirmed[reference:47]
✅ Pro tip: Keep your login credentials safe. You'll use them to add dependents, check your contribution history, and show your digital membership card at hospitals[reference:48].
🏢 Employer SHA Registration
Employers must register all employees with SHA and remit statutory contributions[reference:49]. Here's how:
Create an employer account — Provide business details including Business Registration Certificate (BRS), KRA Certificate, organisation name, KRA PIN, and contact details[reference:51]
3
Verify your account — Complete the verification steps[reference:52]
4
Register employees — Log in and enter employee details: names, ID numbers, and dependents' information[reference:53]
5
Submit registration — Review and confirm all details before final submission[reference:54]
💡 Key insight: Employer contributions are calculated at 2.75% of each employee's gross salary[reference:55].
👨👩👧👦 How to Add Dependents to Your SHA Account
This is one of the most important steps — and one that many people forget[reference:56]. A principal member can declare a spouse and up to five children as dependents. Children are covered up to 25 years of age if wholly dependent and enrolled in full-time post-secondary education[reference:57].
Documents needed for each dependent[reference:58]:
Spouse: National ID and proof of marriage (marriage certificate)
Child: Birth notification or certificate
Adopted child: Adoption order
Child under guardian: Will, deed, court order, or Children's Act document
Person with disability: ID and NCPD registration certificate
How to add dependents after registration[reference:59]:
Click "My Profile" and select "Dependents"[reference:60]
3
Add dependent details — Provide ID number, name, and relationship. An OTP will be sent to your spouse for their consent[reference:61]
4
Upload required documents — Birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.[reference:62]
5
Save and submit — SHA will verify the information[reference:63]
⚠️ Note: A 30-day waiting period applies when changing a spouse for the first time. For any subsequent spouse change, a six-month waiting period applies (except in cases of death)[reference:64].
💰 How to Pay SHA Premiums via M-Pesa
Making your SHA payment is simple and fast:
Paybill Number
200222
Account Number
Your ID Number
Steps: Go to M-Pesa → Lipa na M-Pesa → Paybill → Enter 200222 → Enter your ID number as the account number → Enter amount → Enter M-Pesa PIN → Confirm[reference:65]
Source: The Kenya Times[reference:66]
📊 SHA vs NHIF: What's Changed?
SHA replaced NHIF on December 1, 2025[reference:67]. Here's a comparison:
Feature
SHA (Social Health Authority)
NHIF (Old System)
Registration
USSD *147# or online at sha.go.ke[reference:68]
Manual forms or NHIF branches
Dependents
Must manually add spouse and children[reference:69]
Automatically covered in some cases
Payment
M-Pesa Paybill 200222 with ID as account[reference:70]
Various payment methods
Coverage
Three funds: Primary, SHIF, Emergency/Critical[reference:71]
Single fund structure
Biometric Verification
Biometric registration being rolled out[reference:72]
OTP-based verification
Sources: CityNews Kenya[reference:73], Teachers Kenya Hub[reference:74], AllAfrica[reference:75]
📊 SHA Registration — By the Numbers
Here's the latest data on SHA registration in Kenya:
400K+
Teachers transitioned to SHA[reference:76]
2.75%
Employer contribution rate[reference:77]
10
Minutes to register via USSD[reference:78]
5
Maximum dependents covered[reference:79]
📊 Most Popular SHA Registration Methods
🥧 SHA Fund Structure
🚨 Common Mistakes to Avoid During SHA Registration
Here are the most common errors people make during SHA registration — and how to avoid them:
❌ Not adding dependents — Your family is not automatically covered. You MUST manually add them[reference:81].
❌ Using the wrong phone number — The phone number must be linked to your ID in the IPRS system[reference:82].
❌ Incorrect ID number — Double-check your ID number before submitting.
❌ Not completing the means test — Self-employed and unemployed individuals must complete this[reference:83].
❌ Forgetting to make the first payment — Registration is only confirmed after payment[reference:84].
❌ Using the wrong Paybill number — SHA Paybill is 200222, not the old NHIF number[reference:85].
✅ What to do: If you encounter any difficulties during registration, seek help from a Community Health Promoter (CHP), visit a SHA branch, or visit a Huduma Centre near you[reference:86].
🧠 Quiz: Are You SHA-Ready?
Which of these is NOT required for SHA registration?
💡 Test your knowledge before you start your SHA registration.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About SHA Registration
You can register for SHA in two main ways: Dial *147# on your mobile phone (no internet required) or visit sha.go.ke (or afyayangu.go.ke) to register online[reference:87][reference:88]. You'll need your National ID and phone number.
Yes — registration with SHA is mandatory for all Kenyan citizens, legal residents, and employers[reference:89][reference:90]. Without registration, you and your dependents won't be able to access government healthcare services[reference:91].
The SHA Paybill number is 200222. Use your ID number as the account number when making payments[reference:92].
Log in to the Afya Yangu portal at afyayangu.go.ke, click "My Profile", select "Dependents", and add the required details. You'll need documents like birth certificates and marriage certificates[reference:93][reference:94].
SHA replaced NHIF on December 1, 2025[reference:95]. SHA offers three funds (Primary Healthcare, SHIF, and Emergency/Critical) instead of NHIF's single fund[reference:96]. SHA also requires manual addition of dependents and uses biometric verification[reference:97].
You'll need: National ID (or passport for foreign nationals), KRA PIN, passport-sized photo, birth certificates for dependents, marriage certificate (if registering a spouse), and proof of residence[reference:98][reference:99].
🩺 Complete Your SHA Registration Today
Register for SHA Kenya in under 10 minutes via USSD *147# or online at sha.go.ke. Secure healthcare for you and your family. Don't wait — registration is mandatory.
Free to register. M-Pesa payments accepted. Available nationwide.
Written by: Ken Odhiambo
Reviewed by: Duke Bundi
Last updated:
Last reviewed:
Sources & Disclaimer: Data sourced from the Social Health Authority (SHA) official website, Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Safaricom PLC, The Kenya Times, Standard Media, CityNews Kenya, Teachers Kenya Hub, Education News Hub, and Pulse Live. SHA policies and rates are subject to change. Always verify current information directly from the official SHA portal at sha.go.ke. Registration with SHA is mandatory for all Kenyan residents.
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