How to Pay SHA for Another Person (M-Pesa & Airtel Money)
Paying SHA for your parent, spouse, child, or a friend? It’s the same paybill 200222 you’d use for yourself — the only difference is the account number. Instead of your own ID, you enter their National ID. That’s it.
SHA Paybill (M-Pesa & Airtel Money)
Pay SHA for Another Person via M-Pesa
Get their National ID number
Ask the person for their 8-digit National ID. Confirm it back to them before sending money — this is the step most people rush and get wrong.
Open M-Pesa
Dial *334# or open the M-Pesa app on your phone.
Select “Lipa na M-Pesa” → “Pay Bill”
Not “Buy Goods” and not “Send Money” — SHA payments use a paybill.
Enter Business Number: 200222
Same paybill whether you’re paying for yourself or someone else.
Enter Account Number: THEIR National ID
Not your own ID. This is what tells SHA whose account to credit.
Enter the Amount
Based on their income category — see the table below.
Confirm with Your M-Pesa PIN
You use your own PIN, since it’s your money — only the account number belongs to them. Save the confirmation SMS as proof.
Pay SHA for Another Person via Airtel Money
Airtel Money reaches the same SHA paybill through the interoperability system between networks. The steps are almost identical to M-Pesa:
Open Airtel Money
Dial *222# from your Airtel Money-registered line, or open the My Airtel app.
Select “Lipa na Airtel Money” → “Pay Bill”
This is Airtel’s equivalent of M-Pesa’s Pay Bill option.
Enter Business Number: 200222
Same SHA paybill — it works across both networks.
Enter Account Number: THEIR National ID
Same rule as M-Pesa — the ID belongs to the person you’re paying for, not you.
Enter the Amount and Confirm with Your Airtel Money PIN
Enter the amount, then your own Airtel Money PIN to complete the payment.
How Much to Pay (Based on Their Category)
| Category | Who This Is | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Employed / Informal | Business owner, bodaboda, casual worker, mama mboga | KES 300-500 Minimum |
| Formally Employed | Salaried worker — their employer deducts automatically | 2.75% of gross salary |
| Vulnerable / Indigent | Government-registered social protection | Government covers |
Tips When Paying SHA for Someone Else
- Double-check the ID before sending: Read it back to them — a single wrong digit sends the payment to a stranger’s SHA account.
- Keep the confirmation SMS: Send a screenshot to the person so they have proof too.
- Tell them to check their portal: Confirmation on the SHA portal can take up to 24 hours.
- Only pay for self-employed or vulnerable categories: Formally employed people are covered through payroll deductions — paying their paybill directly isn’t the normal route.
- Works from anywhere: You don’t need to be with the person. As long as you have their correct ID number, you can pay from any location.
FAQ: Paying SHA for Another Person
Can I pay SHA for someone else if they haven’t registered yet?
No. They must be registered with SHA first — payment alone doesn’t create an account. If they’re not registered, we can help with that on WhatsApp (KES 150).
What if I accidentally used my own ID instead of theirs?
The money will go to your own SHA account instead. Call SHA on 0800 720 601 immediately with your M-Pesa or Airtel Money transaction code to explain the error.
Can I pay for a parent who doesn’t have a smartphone?
Yes. You only need their National ID number — you don’t need their phone, their M-Pesa, or their presence. Pay from your own phone using their ID as the account number.
Do I need their permission or a special form to pay for them?
No special form. Anyone can pay into any SHA account using that person’s National ID as the account number — the system doesn’t require proof of relationship.
Can I pay for more than one person in a single transaction?
No. Each M-Pesa or Airtel Money payment can only carry one account number. To pay for multiple people, send a separate payment for each person’s ID.
Is the fee different when paying for someone else?
No. SHA paybill transactions are treated the same regardless of whose ID you use as the account number.
What if the payment doesn’t reflect on their SHA account?
Wait 24 hours first. Then confirm with them that the ID number you used was correct. If it’s still not reflecting, call SHA on 0800 720 601 with the M-Pesa or Airtel Money transaction code.
