SHA Arrears Penalty in Kenya: What You Owe and How to Clear It
The SHA arrears penalty is charged at 2% per month on any contribution left unpaid, under Section 27(6) of the Social Health Insurance Act. Below is exactly how it’s calculated, a calculator that does the compounding for you, and the two ways to clear a balance before it grows further.
SHA Arrears Penalty Calculator
Enter your monthly contribution and how many months you’ve missed to see your estimated SHA arrears penalty. This mirrors SHA’s own compounding logic — each missed month is penalised for every month it stays unpaid, so the oldest missed month carries the most penalty.
This is an illustrative estimate based on Section 27(6)’s 2% monthly rate, compounded per month outstanding. Always confirm your exact assessed balance on afyayangu.go.ke before paying — SHA’s ledger is the source of truth, not this calculator.
Who owes the SHA arrears penalty: Tier 1 vs Tier 2
| Member type | Who owes the contribution + penalty | Your practical risk |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (salaried) | Your employer — remittance is their statutory obligation | Coverage suspension even if it’s not your fault; check afyayangu.go.ke quarterly |
| Tier 2 (self-employed / informal) | You, directly | Lipa Pole Pole is the built-in relief if you can’t clear it in one payment |
| Unemployed | You, at the KES 300 floor | Penalty on the floor is small in absolute terms but still accrues monthly |
SHA’s own system ties the arrears penalty to your PRN (Payment Reference Number) — the unique code generated for each month’s payment. If you have an unpaid penalty, SHA blocks generation of your next PRN until the outstanding penalty is settled. In practice this means you can get stuck unable to even make your current month’s payment until the old penalty is cleared first — not just a passive ledger entry sitting in the background.
How to clear your SHA arrears penalty
Check your exact assessed balance
Log into afyayangu.go.ke and view your ledger. Pay that figure, not a self-calculated estimate — SHA’s ledger is authoritative.
Pay in full via Paybill 200222
Fastest route if you can afford the full balance. Use your National ID as the account number.
Or enrol in Lipa Pole Pole
A 24-month plan starting with 4 months upfront, for Tier 2 members who can’t clear the balance in one payment. Historic penalty stacks aren’t automatically waived — raise those separately with a branch.
Keep paying the current month while you dispute anything
Stopping payment while you appeal a penalty only adds more months to the arrears clock.
If the issue isn’t the penalty itself but a hospital claim, see our separate guide on why SHA claims get rejected.
FAQ: SHA Arrears Penalty
When are SHA monthly contributions due?
Under the SHI Regulations, contributions are due by the 9th day of each month.
How is the SHA arrears penalty calculated?
Section 27(6) of the Social Health Insurance Act sets the SHA arrears penalty at 2% per month on the unpaid contribution. The penalty accrues every month the balance stays unpaid.
What is a PRN and how does it relate to my SHA penalty?
A PRN, or Payment Reference Number, is the unique code generated for each monthly SHA payment. If you have unpaid penalties, SHA’s system blocks the generation of a new PRN until the outstanding penalty is settled.
What happens if I don’t pay my SHA penalty?
You, or your employees if you are an employer, may be classified as inactive. Inactive members cannot access healthcare services under SHA until all outstanding penalties are cleared.
Is there a waiver or amnesty for SHA penalties?
SHA is developing structured waiver and amnesty processes for three categories: non-salaried households, employers, and cases involving system-triggered errors. Approval workflows for these are still being built.
Where can I get help with SHA penalty issues?
You can reach the SHA Contact Centre by dialling 147 for support and inquiries related to contributions, PRNs, or penalties.
Penalty Looks Wrong, or Contribution Too High?
Send us your ledger details on WhatsApp and we’ll help you check the assessed balance and file an appeal if it’s not right.
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