How to Register for SHA (SHIF) in Kenya (2026)

SHA replaced NHIF in October 2024, and registering is now mandatory for every household in Kenya. Months on, most people are still unsure how to do it, how much they will pay, and whether their old NHIF still counts. Here is the clear version.

What is SHA and SHIF?

The Social Health Authority (SHA) runs the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which replaced NHIF. Alongside SHIF there is a Primary Health Care Fund and an Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund. Every resident household is expected to register — salaried and non-salaried alike.

How to register for SHA

There are several official routes, so pick whichever suits you:

• Online through the SHA / Afya Yangu platform (from sha.go.ke)
• USSD by dialling *147# — works on any phone, no data needed
• In person at a Huduma Centre or SHA office
• Through your employer, if you are salaried

You register against your national ID with a phone number in your own name (for the OTP and your SHIF account). Confirm your registration, then understand what you must pay to activate cover — being registered is not the same as being covered.

The means assessment (for non-salaried members)

If you do not have a payslip, you do not pay a flat figure — you complete a means assessment that estimates your household income and sets your contribution, subject to a minimum. This is the step most people get stuck on. Answer honestly and completely; a rushed assessment can set a contribution that is unaffordable or disputed later. Check the current minimum and rules on sha.go.ke before you count on a figure.

Salaried? Here's your contribution

For employees, SHIF is 2.75% of gross salary, subject to a minimum, deducted through payroll — your employer registers the business and staff and remits it. Want to see exactly what comes off your pay? Use our free SHIF calculator, or check your full take-home with the net salary calculator.

Add your family

SHA cover is built around the household, so add your spouse (national ID) and children (birth certificates) as dependants — otherwise a child may not be covered when you need care. Do the principal registration and all dependants in one sitting so the whole family is covered.

Want someone to just do it for you?

If the portal, the means assessment, or adding dependants is fighting you, a verified Kaziiko expert can register your household, complete the means assessment, add your family, and confirm your status. See SHA registration experts on Kaziiko → You pay via M-Pesa, held in escrow until it is done.

Prefer to learn it — and earn by helping others register? The SHA & SHIF Specialist course on Kaziiko Academy (KSh 999) covers household and employer registration, the means assessment, and dependants end to end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SHA registration mandatory?

Yes. Health cover is now mandatory, and every household is expected to register with SHA, whether salaried or not.

Does my old NHIF still work?

NHIF was replaced by SHA/SHIF. You need to be in the SHA system — check your registration and contribution status on sha.go.ke or by dialling *147#.

How much does SHIF cost?

Salaried members pay 2.75% of gross salary, subject to a minimum. Non-salaried members pay an amount set by a means assessment. Confirm the current figures on sha.go.ke.

Can I register without a smartphone?

Yes. Dial *147# on any phone, or visit a Huduma Centre for in-person help.

How do I add my spouse and children?

Add them as dependants on your SHIF account using the spouse's national ID and each child's birth certificate, so the whole family is covered.