SHA explained: what replaced NHIF, what you pay, and why only some members pay
The Social Health Authority was one of Kenya's most-searched topics of 2025. Here is how it works, in plain language.
The Social Health Authority (SHA) replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). Its main scheme, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), aims to cover every Kenyan, not only people in formal jobs.
Who must register
Every Kenyan must register, as must foreigners who have lived in Kenya for more than 12 months. Proof of registration and contributions can be required to access national and county government services.
What you pay
- Salaried workers pay 2.75% of their salary. On a Ksh20,000 salary that is Ksh550 a month; on Ksh50,000, it is Ksh1,375.
- Under NHIF, salaried members paid a fixed scale from Ksh150 to Ksh1,700 a month.
- Self-employed and informal workers pay an amount set by means testing, based on information about the household. Check your current amount on the official SHA platform before you pay.
The numbers so far
| Measure | Figure | As reported |
|---|---|---|
| Registered members, including dependants | 32.2 million | August 2026, Health CS |
| Members actively paying | about 5 million | August 2026, unnamed insider |
| Yearly collections | about Ksh90 billion, against Ksh80 billion under NHIF | August 2026 |
| Claims ratio | 126%, against a legal ceiling of 95% | August 2026 |
Why so few pay
Experts quoted by The Standard point to hard economic times, unemployment, informal-sector workers finding means-tested premiums unaffordable, and a habit of paying only when someone falls sick, as many did under NHIF.
Rules and amounts can change. We will update this page when they do, and always link to the official source.
