- Author: Raymond
- Category: Medical Insurance
How the Social Health Authority (SHA) Works in Kenya — The New Face of Universal Healthcare 🇰🇪
Healthcare in Kenya is changing, big time. The old NHIF we all knew has officially been replaced by a new system — the Social Health Authority (SHA).
If you’ve been wondering what SHA really is, how it works, and whether it’s good news or bad news for ordinary Kenyans… let’s unpack this thing like pros.
🏥 What Exactly Is SHA?
SHA stands for Social Health Authority — a new government body created under the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023.
Its mission? To give every Kenyan access to healthcare — rich, poor, employed, hustling, or just surviving.
Think of SHA as the “upgraded” version of NHIF. But instead of one fund doing everything, SHA splits healthcare into three powerful funds:
- Primary Healthcare Fund (PHCF): Handles basic and community health — the local dispensaries and health centres.
- Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF): This is the main insurance fund that covers outpatient, inpatient, maternity, surgeries, and most hospital bills.
- Emergency, Chronic & Critical Illness Fund: Covers expensive or long-term illnesses like cancer, kidney failure, and emergency cases when you’ve exhausted normal benefits.
It’s a bold attempt to build Kenya’s version of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) — where no one should go bankrupt because they got sick.
💰 How SHA Contributions Work
The system is built around shared responsibility — everyone contributes depending on what they earn or can afford.
🔹 For Salaried Employees
Employers will now deduct 2.75% of your gross salary every month and remit it to SHA — same way PAYE or NSSF deductions work.
Example:
If you earn KSh 50,000, your SHA deduction will be KSh 1,375.
The more you earn, the more you contribute — fair enough, right?
🔹 For Self-Employed & Informal Sector
If you’re self-employed or hustling without a payslip, SHA will use a means test to determine your ability to pay.
The minimum contribution? KSh 300 per month.
And for those unable to afford even that, the government will subsidize them — especially vulnerable families.
🩺 What Does SHA Cover?
SHA isn’t just a name change. It’s supposed to offer a wider range of benefits than NHIF ever did:
- Outpatient and inpatient services
- Maternity and newborn care
- Diagnostic tests, lab and imaging
- Cancer, dialysis, and chronic illness support
- Emergency and accident care
- Surgeries, specialist consultations, and more
The idea is to make quality care accessible at both public and private hospitals that are empanelled by SHA.
📲 How to Register for SHA
Registration is open to all Kenyans and residents — yes, everyone living in Kenya must register.
You can do it right now via:
- USSD: Dial *147#
- Website: www.sha.go.ke
- Afya Yangu App / Portal: For digital registration
You’ll need your National ID (or passport for non-Kenyans) and details of your spouse and dependents.
Once approved, you’ll receive a SHA membership number — that’s your ticket to affordable healthcare across the country.
🚨 Real Talk: The Challenges So Far
Let’s be honest — Kenya’s transition from NHIF to SHA hasn’t been all rosy.
Here’s what’s happening on the ground:
- Many hospitals are still adjusting to new claim systems.
- Some Kenyans are confused about where to pay or how to register.
- The means testing for informal sector contributors feels a bit intrusive to some.
- And government funding is still a work in progress — meaning not every service is 100% smooth yet.
But here’s the upside — it’s a step forward.
The vision is solid: a Kenya where everyone can walk into a hospital and get treated without panic or shame.
🌍 SHA and Private Insurance: Partners, Not Enemies
Even with SHA, private insurance and microhealth plans still matter.
That’s where intermediaries like Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd come in.
We help individuals, families, and SMEs combine SHA with affordable private health covers, so you get:
- Faster hospital access
- Wider hospital choice
- Extra benefits (optical, dental, maternity top-ups, etc.)
👉 Visit www.imana.co.ke or www.mykava.co.ke
📞 Call/WhatsApp: 0796 209 402 | 0745 218 460 | 0113 806 810
📍 4th Floor, Krishna Centre, Woodvale Grove, Westlands, Nairobi
💡Insurance Wisdom
SHA is Kenya’s biggest health reform in decades — bold, ambitious, and people-centred.
It’s not perfect yet, but it’s moving us toward a future where healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
So don’t wait to fall sick. Register early. Understand your benefits.
And if you want to supplement your SHA coverage with private or micro-health insurance, talk to the experts at Imana Insurance — because your health deserves full protection.
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