What is the SHA Means Test in Kenya?

The SHA Means Test is an assessment on afyayangu.go.ke that determines your monthly SHA contribution amount. It asks about your household characteristics, assets, housing conditions, and income sources. The system calculates a fair premium based on your ability to pay — typically between KES 300 and KES 600 per month for self-employed and unemployed Kenyans.

Who must complete the SHA Means Test in Kenya?

The SHA Means Test is required for self-employed and unemployed Kenyans — anyone who is not on a formal payroll. Salaried employees have their contributions calculated through their employer's payroll deductions and do not need to complete the Means Test.

How long does the SHA Means Test take?

The SHA Means Test takes about 10 to 20 minutes to complete online on afyayangu.go.ke. It has 3 steps — Education Background, Household Characteristics (23 questions), and Confirm Details.

What happens if I do not complete the SHA Means Test?

If you do not complete the SHA Means Test, your registration status stays Pending and you are not covered. The Means Test is the step that activates your SHA cover. You cannot access SHA benefits at any hospital until your status shows Active.

SHA Means Test Kenya

Q: How much will I pay after completing the SHA Means Test?

Your monthly contribution depends on the answers you give during the Means Test. The system cross-references your answers with data from KRA, NTSA, and mobile money providers. Most self-employed Kenyans are placed between KES 300 and KES 600 per month. The average is approximately KES 592 per month.

Q: Can I redo the SHA Means Test if I disagree with my contribution amount?

Yes. If you believe your assessment was inaccurate, SHA has a built-in appeals process. You can request a review and manual verification through the SHA system. Contact the SHA helpline on 0800 720 601 to initiate a review.

SHA Means Test Kenya

The SHA Means Test Kenya is the assessment on afyayangu.go.ke that determines your monthly SHA contribution amount. It is required for all self-employed and unemployed Kenyans — and until you complete it, your SHA status stays Pending and you are not covered. This page documents every question asked, what to expect, and exactly how to complete it.

⚡ Quick Answers

What is the SHA Means Test?

An online assessment on afyayangu.go.ke that calculates your monthly SHA contribution based on your household’s socio-economic status. It replaces the flat-rate system used by NHIF.

Who must complete it?

Self-employed and unemployed Kenyans only. If you are a salaried employee, your employer handles contributions through payroll — you do not complete the Means Test.

How many questions are there?

23 questions across 3 steps — Education Background, Household Characteristics, and Confirm Details. Takes 10–20 minutes to complete.

How much will I pay per month?

Between KES 300 and KES 600 for most self-employed Kenyans. The exact amount depends on your answers. The national average is approximately KES 592 per month.

Can MyCyber complete the Means Test for me?

Yes — KES 200. WhatsApp us on 0751 947 700 and we complete the full Means Test on your behalf the same day.

1. What Is the SHA Means Test?

The SHA Means Test — officially called the SHA Insurance Premium Assessment on afyayangu.go.ke — is a digital questionnaire that determines how much you contribute to SHA every month. Instead of charging every Kenyan the same amount, SHA uses this test to calculate a fair premium based on your actual household’s ability to pay.

The system evaluates your socio-economic status by asking about your housing conditions, the assets your household owns, your income sources, and your spending patterns. It then cross-references some of your answers with data from KRA, NTSA, and mobile money providers to verify accuracy.

The Means Test has three steps:

Step 1 — Education Background: Your highest level of education
Step 2 — Household Characteristics: 23 questions about your home, assets, and household
Step 3 — Confirm Details: Review and submit your answers

Important: The SHA Means Test is the second and final step of registration. If you have not yet started registration at all, read our SHA registration guide first, then come back here to complete the Means Test.

2. Who Must Complete the SHA Means Test?

The Means Test is required for self-employed and unemployed Kenyans — anyone who is not on a formal payroll. This includes:

Boda boda riders, matatu operators, and other transport workers
Traders, shopkeepers, mama mbogas, and market vendors
Freelancers, consultants, and online workers
Casual labourers and subsistence farmers
Unemployed adults and those between jobs
Anyone who registered via *147# and whose status still shows Pending

⚠️ Your status stays Pending until the Means Test is done

Dialling *147# only starts your registration. It does not complete it. Until you finish the Means Test on afyayangu.go.ke, your SHA status remains Pending and you cannot access SHA benefits at any hospital. This is the single most common reason people think they are registered but are turned away.

3. What You Need Before You Start

The Means Test is done entirely online at afyayangu.go.ke. Before you begin, make sure you have the following ready:

✓

What to Have Ready

The test asks about your household — have honest answers to these ready before you start:

Your afyayangu.go.ke login — National ID and password
Your highest level of education — primary, secondary, college, or university
Details about your house — roof material, wall material, floor material, and water source
A list of assets you own — TV, phone type, motorcycle, car, livestock
Your approximate monthly airtime spend
Whether your household receives any government or NGO assistance
The land size your household owns (if any) in acres

You can complete the test on a smartphone browser — no app is needed. A stable internet connection is recommended so you do not lose progress between sections.

4. Step 1 — Education Background

The first step of the SHA Means Test asks about the highest level of education of the household head. This is used as one of the indicators of socio-economic status.

How to Get to the Means Test

Log into afyayangu.go.ke and navigate to the Means Test section.

Go to afyayangu.go.ke and log in with your National ID and password
On your dashboard, click My Profile
Navigate to the Income or Means Test section
Click Start Assessment — the SHA Insurance Premium Assessment opens
Step 1 asks for the household head’s highest education level — select from the dropdown and click Next

5. Step 2 — Household Characteristics (All 23 Questions)

Step 2 is the main section of the SHA Means Test. It contains 23 questions about your household. Below is every question on the form — exactly as it appears on afyayangu.go.ke — so you know what to expect before you start.

SHA Means Test Step 2 opening screen — Household Characteristics on afyayangu.go.ke — Step 2 opens with the Household Characteristics section. Question 1 asks about dependants who spent the previous night at your home.

🏠 Housing and Household

How many people from your household, who are registered as your dependants, spent the previous night here? Enter a number. If you have no dependants, enter 0.

What is the gender of household head? Options: Male / Female

Does household head have a source of income? Options: Yes / No

What is the marital status of household head? Options: Married Monogamous, Married Polygamous, Living together, Separated, Divorced, Widow or widower, Never Married

SHA Means Test — marital status and household income questions on afyayangu.go.ke — Questions 2–4 ask about the gender, income source, and marital status of the household head. Select the option that best describes your situation.

🏠 Housing and Household

What type of dwelling does the household live in? Options: Flat, House, Traditional dwelling, and other types

How many rooms in this household are used for sleeping? Select from dropdown — 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7+

Do you own or rent this house/dwelling unit? Options: Owns / Rents

SHA Means Test — dwelling type, sleeping rooms and ownership questions — Questions 5–7 ask about your dwelling type, how many rooms are used for sleeping, and whether you own or rent your home.

🏠 Housing and Household

What is the predominant roof material of the MAIN dwelling unit/house? Options include: Iron sheets/Decra/Versatile, Tiles, Grass/leaves/mud, Concrete/cement

What is the predominant wall material of the MAIN dwelling unit/house? Options include: Stone with lime/cement, Mud/earth, Brick, Wood/timber, Iron sheets

SHA Means Test — roof and wall material questions on afyayangu.go.ke — Questions 8–9 ask about the roof and wall materials of your main dwelling. Select the material that covers the largest area of your home.

🏠 Housing and Household

What is the predominant floor material of the MAIN dwelling unit/house? Options include: Ceramic tiles, Cement/concrete, Earth/mud, Wood

State the main source of drinking water Options include: Bottled water, Piped into house, Piped into yard, Borehole, River/stream, Rainwater, Vendor/tanker

SHA Means Test — floor material, water source and toilet questions on afyayangu.go.ke — Questions 10–11 cover your floor material and main drinking water source. These are key indicators used in the socio-economic assessment.

🏠 Housing and Household

Do you share this toilet facility with other households? Options: Yes / No

Main mode of human waste disposal Options include: Flush to septic tank, Flush to sewer, Pit latrine, Bush/field/open

What is the [MAIN] source of energy for cooking? Options include: LPG/gas, Electricity, Charcoal, Firewood, Biogas, Kerosene

SHA Means Test — toilet, waste disposal and cooking energy questions on afyayangu.go.ke — Questions 12–14 ask about toilet sharing, waste disposal method, and your main cooking energy source. Answer based on your actual daily household situation.

📺 Household Assets — What You Own

What is the [MAIN] source of energy for lighting? Options include: Electricity (grid), Solar, Lantern/kerosene, Candle, Generator

Does the household OWN any of the following items? Tick all that apply: Electricity, Radio, Television, Non-mobile telephone/landline, Desktop Computer, Laptop Computer, Refrigerator, Tablet, Hometheater, None

Does the household member OWN any of the following items? Tick all that apply: Phone, Motorcycle, Bicycle, Car, Pickup, None

Does this household own any of the following livestock? Tick all that apply: Cattle, Poultry, Sheep, Goat, Donkey, Camel, Other Livestock (Specify), None

Does this household receive a cash transfer or any social assistance from any of the following? Tick all that apply: National Government, County Government, NGOs/CBOs/Other charitable organizations, Church/mosque/other Religious organization, Friends/relatives/neighbours, None

SHA Means Test — household assets, vehicles and social assistance questions on afyayangu.go.ke — Questions 16–19 ask what items your household owns — electronics, vehicles, livestock — and whether you receive any government or NGO assistance. Tick all that apply honestly.

🌾 Land and Technology Use

What is the total size of the land (in acres) owned by members of the household? Select from dropdown — 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5+ acres

What is the total size of land (in acres) used by this household for agricultural activity? Select from dropdown — 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5+ acres

What type of phone do you currently use? Options: Smartphone, Feature phone (basic phone), No phone

What average airtime do you use per month? Enter your approximate monthly airtime spend in KES — this is used alongside M-Pesa transaction data

⚠️ Answer honestly — the system cross-checks your answers

SHA cross-references your Means Test answers with data from KRA, NTSA, and mobile money providers including M-Pesa. Providing inaccurate answers to lower your contribution amount can result in your registration being flagged or your cover being suspended.

6. Step 3 — Confirm and Submit

After completing all 23 questions in Step 2, the form moves to Step 3 — Confirm Details. This shows you a summary of every answer you provided so you can review before submitting.

Review and Submit

Take your time on this step — once submitted you cannot easily change your answers.

Read through every answer on the confirmation screen carefully
If anything is wrong, click Back to return and correct it
When you are satisfied everything is accurate, click Submit
The system processes your answers and calculates your monthly contribution
Your monthly premium amount is displayed on screen — note it down
Your SHA registration status updates to Active within 24–48 hours

Stuck on the Means Test or not sure how to answer? MyCyber completes the full Means Test for you via WhatsApp for KES 200. We handle all 23 questions and confirm your status shows Active. Read more about our assisted SHA registration service.

KES 200 — same day

Cannot Complete the Means Test Yourself?

Send your National ID number on WhatsApp. We log in, complete all 23 questions correctly, and confirm your SHA status shows Active — the same day.

💬 WhatsApp: 0751 947 700

7. What Contribution Amount Will You Get?

After submitting the Means Test, the SHA system calculates your monthly premium based on the algorithm applied to your answers. The amount varies — here is what to generally expect:

Household Profile	Typical Monthly Contribution
Low income — mud house, no assets, no income source	KES 300 – 400 per month
Middle — iron sheet roof, rents a flat, owns a TV and phone	KES 400 – 550 per month
Average self-employed — national average	KES 592 per month
Higher income indicators — owns a car, laptop, tile floor	KES 600 – 900+ per month
Vulnerable/indigent — identified as unable to contribute	Subsidised or zero contribution

Your exact amount is calculated by the SHA algorithm and displayed immediately after submission. The system cannot be negotiated with directly — but if you believe your result is inaccurate, SHA has an appeals process (see FAQ below).

Once you know your monthly amount, pay via M-Pesa Paybill 200222, account number = your National ID number. Keep contributions current every month to avoid your cover lapsing to Inactive.

8. What to Do After Completing the SHA Means Test

Once you have submitted the Means Test, your SHA registration is complete. Here is what to do next:

Check your status — give it 24–48 hours then check your SHA registration status on afyayangu.go.ke. It should show Active
Make your first contribution — pay via M-Pesa to Paybill 200222, account = your National ID. You do not need to pay before your status shows Active — the Means Test completion activates your cover
At the hospital — present your National ID. The hospital’s provider portal verifies your status. If registered within the last 72 hours, wait and retry if not found immediately
Add your dependants — log into afyayangu.go.ke and navigate to My Dependants to add your spouse, children, or parents to your cover

9. Common Problems and Fixes

Means Test Section Not Showing on My Dashboard

This happens when your *147# registration did not complete properly or there is a mismatch between your phone number and your National ID on the SHA system.

Log out and log back into afyayangu.go.ke and try again
If still not showing, dial *147# again from your registered number and follow the prompts to restart registration
If the problem persists, WhatsApp us — this is a common issue we resolve the same day

Submitted the Means Test But Status Still Shows Pending After 48 Hours

The SHA portal sometimes has a delay between Means Test submission and status update — especially during peak registration periods.

Wait a full 48 hours after submission before checking
Log in and check your status on afyayangu.go.ke — it may have updated without a notification
If still Pending after 48 hours, call SHA on 0800 720 601 (toll-free) and quote your National ID number

Portal Times Out or Freezes During the Assessment

The afyayangu portal occasionally times out mid-assessment, especially on slower connections. Your progress may or may not be saved.

Log back in and navigate to the Means Test section — check if your answers were saved
If the form is blank, start again from Step 1 — it takes 10–20 minutes and your previous incomplete attempt does not affect the new one
Use a stable Wi-Fi connection rather than mobile data to reduce the risk of timeouts

10. Frequently Asked Questions

Can I complete the SHA Means Test on a phone or do I need a computer?

You can complete the SHA Means Test on any smartphone using a browser — no computer is needed. Open Chrome or any browser, go to afyayangu.go.ke, log in, and navigate to the Means Test section. The form is mobile-responsive. Some users find it easier to use a tablet or computer for the longer dropdown sections, but a phone works fine.

I am salaried — do I need to complete the Means Test?

No. If you are a formal employee whose employer deducts SHA contributions from your salary, your contributions are calculated through payroll and you do not need to complete the Means Test. The Means Test is only for self-employed and unemployed Kenyans registering independently.

What if I disagree with the contribution amount the system calculated?

SHA has a built-in appeals process. If you believe your assessment was inaccurate — for example it placed you in a higher category than your actual situation — you can request a review and manual verification. Call the SHA helpline on 0800 720 601 (toll-free) and ask to dispute your Means Test result. Bring any supporting documents that demonstrate your actual socio-economic situation.

How often do I need to redo the Means Test?

You only complete the Means Test once during initial registration. If your socio-economic situation changes significantly — for example you move from self-employment to formal employment, or vice versa — your contribution category may need updating. Contact SHA on 0800 720 601 to request a reassessment if your circumstances change.

Does the SHA Means Test really check with KRA and M-Pesa?

Yes. SHA’s system is designed to cross-reference your answers with data held by KRA (tax records), NTSA (vehicle registration), and mobile money providers including Safaricom M-Pesa. This means if you declare you own no vehicle but NTSA records show one registered in your ID number, the system will flag the discrepancy. Answer honestly.

I completed the Means Test but the hospital says I am not found — what do I do?

The member portal on afyayangu.go.ke updates faster than the hospital provider portal. If you completed the Means Test within the last 72 hours, wait and retry. If longer than 72 hours have passed and the hospital still cannot find you, ask to speak with the hospital’s SHA focal person — not just the front desk. They have deeper access. You can also read our full guide on SHA Contributor Not Found for a complete fix.

Disclaimer: MyCyber is an independent digital assistance service. We are not affiliated with the Social Health Authority (SHA), Afya Yangu, or any government body. All official SHA information should be verified at afyayangu.go.ke or by calling the SHA toll-free helpline 0800 720 601.