How to Add Spouse to SHA Without Marriage Certificate
Here is how to add spouse to SHA without marriage certificate. SHA’s own steps need your spouse’s ID number, first name and an OTP. If the portal also asks for proof of marriage and you have no certificate, a sworn affidavit is the document to have ready. This page shows how to get it and the exact steps to follow.
Your spouse must register on SHA first. Log in, go to My Profile, Dependants, Add Spouse, enter your spouse’s ID number and first name, and your spouse confirms with an OTP, then you click Submit. If the portal asks for proof of marriage and you have no certificate, upload a sworn affidavit of marriage from a Commissioner for Oaths. Unsure what the portal needs? Call SHA on 0800 720 601.
What is your situation?
| Your situation | Start at |
|---|---|
| We are married but have no certificate | Step 1: get an affidavit |
| I have my proof and want to add my spouse | Step 2: prepare |
| I have a marriage certificate | Step 3: add your spouse |
| The OTP, status or details will not go through | Step 4: fix it |
| We live together but never married in any form | Read this first |
What proof of marriage does SHA accept?
The Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024 ask for a copy of your spouse’s ID and a copy of proof of marriage when you add a spouse. Early drafts named a marriage certificate. That was changed after public objections that many couples, especially in customary marriages, never got one. SHA’s own published steps for adding a spouse list your spouse’s ID number, first name and an OTP, and do not spell out which proof-of-marriage document is required. Treat the options below as what to have ready, and confirm with SHA on 0800 720 601.
| Proof | Who issues it | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage certificate | Registrar of Marriages | You already have one. This is the simplest route. |
| Sworn affidavit of marriage | Commissioner for Oaths, notary public or magistrate | You have no certificate. This is the document we suggest having ready. |
We suggest the affidavit as your main document because you control it. Any Commissioner for Oaths can prepare it in your own town, so you do not depend on one office’s schedule. It is the most practical file to have ready when you add spouse to SHA without marriage certificate.
Steps to add spouse to SHA without marriage certificate
Get a sworn affidavit of marriage
An affidavit of marriage is a written statement, sworn before an official, saying that you and your spouse are married. It takes one visit, and it works for customary, religious and civil marriages alike. It is the core document when you add spouse to SHA without marriage certificate.
- Prepare the wording. Use the sample below, or ask the advocate to draft it. It must name you and your spouse, with ID numbers, and say how and roughly when you married.
- Go to a Commissioner for Oaths. Most advocates are commissioners. A notary public or a magistrate’s court can also do it. Carry your original ID and your spouse’s ID number.
- Swear it before them. They sign, date and stamp it. Ask what the fee is first, because it varies.
- Keep the stamped original and scan a clear copy. You may need to upload the scan, and SHA may ask to see the original.
Sample affidavit wording you can adapt
AFFIDAVIT OF MARRIAGE
I, [your full name], holder of National ID No. [number], of [town or village, county], make oath and state as follows:
1. That I am an adult Kenyan citizen and I make this affidavit from my own knowledge.
2. That I am married to [spouse’s full name], holder of National ID No. [number], under [customary / Christian / Islamic / Hindu / civil] law.
3. That our marriage was contracted on or about 2026 at [place].
4. That we live together as husband and wife.
5. That we do not hold a marriage certificate because [the marriage has not been registered / the certificate was lost].
6. That I make this affidavit to support adding my spouse as a dependant on my Social Health Authority account.
7. That what I have stated above is true to the best of my knowledge.
SWORN at [town] by the said [your name] this [day] day of [month] 2026, before me. [Commissioner for Oaths: signature, name and stamp]
This is a sample for guidance, not legal advice. Fill in only what is true.
Check both profiles before you start
Most failed attempts come from skipping this step. Do it before you add spouse to SHA without marriage certificate, because SHA can only link two profiles that both exist and are in order.
- Your spouse is registered on sha.go.ke or afyayangu.go.ke. If not, register them first.
- Your own status is active, not pending. See how to check your SHA registration status.
- Your spouse has their phone with them. The OTP goes to the number on their profile.
- Your scanned proof is ready on your phone or computer.
Add your spouse on SHA
These are SHA’s own steps, and they are the same when you add spouse to SHA without marriage certificate. Only the proof you upload is different, and it goes in where the portal asks for it.
- Log in at sha.go.ke or afyayangu.go.ke, then open My Profile, then Dependants, then Add Spouse.
- Enter your spouse’s National ID number and first name.
- SHA sends an OTP to your spouse’s registered phone. They enter it to confirm whether they are a contributor or a dependant.
- If the portal asks for proof of marriage, upload the scanned affidavit.
- Click Submit to finish the addition.
Never share an OTP with anyone who calls offering to “fix” SHA. Only your spouse should enter it.
If your spouse will not go through
Match what you see to the cause, then use the linked guide for the full fix.
| What you see | Likely cause | Where to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| ID number or first name rejected | Does not match SHA’s record | SHA account and details |
| OTP never arrives | Old or wrong phone number on your spouse’s profile | SHA OTP not received, change phone number |
| Spouse shows as pending | Verification still running | Dependant status showing pending |
| Spouse is already linked elsewhere | Previously listed under another account | How to remove a spouse from SHA |
| Still stuck after all of this | Needs SHA | SHA customer care or an SHA office near you. Carry the stamped originals. |
If you want a certificate later, a customary marriage can be registered with the Registrar of Marriages through eCitizen. You do not need to wait for it before you add spouse to SHA without marriage certificate.
Want us to check your documents first?
Send your affidavit on WhatsApp. We will tell you if it is ready to upload, and what to fix, before you waste a trip.
Chat with us on WhatsAppAdd spouse to SHA without marriage certificate: frequently asked questions
Can I add spouse to SHA without marriage certificate?
Often yes. SHA’s own steps need your spouse’s ID number, first name and an OTP. If the portal asks for proof of marriage, a sworn affidavit is the document to have ready. Call SHA on 0800 720 601 if the portal behaves differently.
Can an affidavit be used as proof of marriage on SHA?
It is the document we suggest. Swear it before a Commissioner for Oaths, notary public or magistrate, then keep the stamped original and upload a clear scan if the portal asks for proof. SHA’s own steps do not name the affidavit, so confirm with SHA if the portal rejects it.
Where do I get an affidavit of marriage in Kenya?
From a Commissioner for Oaths, which most advocates are, from a notary public, or from a magistrate’s court. Ask for the fee before you start, because it varies.
Is living together enough to add a spouse?
No. SHA asks for proof of a marriage, and living together is not a document. An affidavit must describe a marriage that was actually contracted, so ask an advocate if you are unsure.
Does my spouse have to register on SHA first?
Yes. Your spouse must register on sha.go.ke or afyayangu.go.ke first, and then confirm the link with an OTP sent to their registered phone.
Related SHA dependants guides
Sources
- Social Health Authority, FAQs: “I cannot add my spouse in my SHA profile. What could be the issue?” (sha.go.ke/faqs).
- The Standard, “MPs query plan for each spouse to pay for SHIF”: the regulation’s wording on spouse ID and proof of marriage (standardmedia.co.ke).
- The Kenya Times, 1 March 2024: certificate replaced by proof of marriage (thekenyatimes.com).
Disclaimer: MyCyber is an independent digital assistance service, not affiliated with SHA or any government body. This page explains publicly reported SHA guidance and is not legal advice. Verify current details on sha.go.ke, afyayangu.go.ke, or by calling 0800 720 601. Sources reviewed on 1 November 2026.
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