Short answer. The Social Health Authority (SHA) replaced NHIF in October 2024. Its contribution, SHIF, is 2.75% of income, with a minimum of KSh 300 a month and no upper limit. You can register by dialling *147#, by calling 147, or online at sha.go.ke. Registration is free.
Checked against sha.go.ke on 5 October 2026. SHA rules change: if anything here differs from SHA's own pages, trust SHA.
What you pay
The rate is the same for everyone. What differs is how it is worked out.
- Employed: your employer deducts 2.75% of your gross salary through payroll.
- Self-employed or informal work: SHA sets 2.75% of your household income through means testing.
- Everyone: at least KSh 300 a month, and no upper limit.
| Monthly income | SHIF contribution |
|---|---|
| KSh 10,000 | KSh 300 (the minimum applies) |
| KSh 20,000 | KSh 550 |
| KSh 50,000 | KSh 1,375 |
| KSh 100,000 | KSh 2,750 |
These are estimates: SHA assesses your actual amount. SHA's published rules do not say what applies to households that cannot pay, so ask SHA or check the means-testing page on sha.go.ke. You can work out your own figure with the free SHIF calculator.
How to register
- Dial *147#. Choose to register and enter your ID number. Your details are pulled from the national registry for you to confirm.
- Answer the means-testing questions. If you are not on a payslip, SHA asks about your household so it can set your contribution.
- Add your dependants. Add a spouse and children with their ID or birth certificate numbers, as the SHA form allows.
- Set a PIN. Create a four-digit PIN for your SHA account, then check your status on the SHA portal.
You can also call 147, register at sha.go.ke, or get help from a Community Health Promoter.
What SHA says it covers
SHA groups its benefits into three funds. These are the services it lists for each:
- Primary Healthcare Fund: outpatient care; maternity, newborn and child health; cancer screening and management; optical health; end-of-life services.
- Social Health Insurance Fund: medical inpatient services; maternity and neonatal services; the renal care package; mental health services; surgical services.
- Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund: ambulance evacuation; accident and emergency services; critical illness care; palliative care; chronic illnesses.
Dental care is not among the benefits SHA lists. Whether a specific service or facility is covered is a question for SHA, so confirm before you rely on it.
Four checks that save a trip
- Check your contributions are current. Cover depends on them being up to date. Check your status with your ID number on the SHA eligibility page, eligibility.sha.go.ke.
- Confirm the facility is contracted with SHA. SHA pays contracted facilities. Check this before the day you need care, especially for a delivery or a planned procedure.
- Know the level of facility you need. A dispensary, a health centre and a county hospital handle different problems, and a referral usually goes up a level.
- Carry your ID and SHA number. Bring your national ID (or a child's birth certificate) and your SHA number to the counter.
Questions people ask
What replaced NHIF? The Social Health Authority replaced NHIF in October 2024. Contributions are now called SHIF.
Is there a maximum contribution? No. SHA lists no upper limit.
Where do I check my SHA account? On the Afya Yangu portal, afyayangu.go.ke, or the eligibility page above.
Sources
- Social Health Authority, premium rates: sha.go.ke/premium-rates
- Social Health Authority, benefits: sha.go.ke
- Ministry of Health Kenya, registration via a Community Health Promoter (March 2025)
This article was written by the Tabibu editorial team from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your own situation. For a question about your own cover, ask SHA, or ask Tabibu, which shows the sources it used.