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SHA Number Kenya — What It Is, How to Get It & How to Check It
If you are asking what is my SHA number, how do I get my SHA number, or how do I check my SHA number, this guide answers all three in plain terms. Many Kenyans also call this their SHIF number or SHA membership number — they mean the same thing, and this guide covers all of those terms together.
Quick Answer: Your SHA number is the unique membership number the Social Health Authority generates for you once your registration is approved — you receive it by SMS and email. It is linked to your account, but for almost everything you actually need to do — logging into Afya Yangu, checking your status, or being identified at a hospital — you use your National ID number instead. SHA has not published a fixed public format for the membership number itself, so unlike the old NHIF card number, there is no standard example to memorise — your ID number is the practical identifier that works everywhere.
SHA replaced NHIF, and NHIF used a clearly printed membership number on a physical card. SHA’s system works differently — your National ID does most of the identification work, while the SHA/SHIF membership number exists mainly as a system reference sent to you once at registration. That difference is the source of almost every “how do I find my SHA number” search.
SHA Number vs SHIF Number vs SHA Membership Number — Are They the Same?
Yes. SHIF (Social Health Insurance Fund) is the specific contributory fund that the Social Health Authority (SHA) administers, so Kenyans use “SHA number,” “SHIF number,” and “SHA membership number” interchangeably to refer to the same account reference. You will see all three terms used across official and unofficial sources — none of them refer to a different or separate number.
Had an NHIF number before? It does not carry over as your SHA number. SHA requires fresh registration even for former NHIF members, though your historical NHIF contribution records are linked to your new account during the transition. See our full NHIF to SHA migration guide if you are unsure whether your old records transferred.
Which Situation Are You In?
What you need to do next depends on whether you have already registered with SHA. Find your situation below.
Situation A — Already registered, need to find your number
You completed SHA registration at some point and now need to locate your membership number, confirm it, or use it for a hospital or employer request.
- Check your confirmation SMS or email
- Log into the Afya Yangu portal
- Verify via *147# or verify.sha.go.ke
Follow “How to Check Your SHA Number” below.
Situation B — Not registered yet, need to get one
You have never registered with SHA and need to complete registration before any number can be generated for you.
- Register online, via *147#, or at a Huduma Centre
- Wait for approval and confirmation
- Receive your number by SMS and email
See our full SHA registration guide.
How to Get Your SHA Number for the First Time
Your SHA number is generated automatically the moment your registration is approved — you do not request it separately. The steps below summarise the process; for full detail on each registration method, see our SHA registration online guide.
Register online via Afya Yangu, by dialling *147# on your registered phone, or in person at a Huduma Centre or SHA office. You will need your National ID number in every case.
SHA cross-checks your details against the national ID database (IPRS). This is usually quick, but mismatches — common with recently issued IDs — can cause delays or errors during this step.
Once approved, SHA sends a confirmation message to your registered phone number and email address containing your SHA membership number. Save or screenshot this message — it is the easiest record of your number going forward.
From this point on, you log into Afya Yangu, check your status, and get identified at hospitals using your National ID number and 4-digit PIN — not the membership number itself.
How to Check Your SHA Number — 4 Official Ways
If you have already registered but cannot locate your number, use whichever method below is easiest for your situation.
The fastest way. Search your messages or inbox for the confirmation sent when your registration was approved — it contains your SHA/SHIF membership number directly.
Go to afyayangu.go.ke and sign in with your National ID number and 4-digit PIN. Your membership details are listed under My Profile on your dashboard.
Select the menu option to check your SHA registration status. This works even if you registered offline and have never logged into the online portal.
This official SHA lookup page accepts either your National ID number or your SHIF/SHA number to confirm your registration status, contribution history, and beneficiary information.
Still can’t find it? Visit any SHA office or Huduma Centre with your original National ID. An officer can look up your account and confirm your membership number directly from the system — you do not need to already know the number to be found in it.
“SHA Registration Code” vs *147# — A Common Mix-Up
These are two different things
When people are told to “use their SHA code,” they usually mean their National ID number — not the *147# USSD short code, which is simply the dial code used to access SHA’s registration and status-check menu by phone. If someone tells you to use a “code,” confirm with them whether they mean your ID number or the *147# dial code, since mixing the two up is a common source of confusion.
Number Not Working or “Contributor Not Found”?
This is usually an account issue, not a wrong number
If your National ID or SHA number returns a “Contributor Not Found” error at a hospital or on the portal, this typically means your registration was never fully completed, your details do not match IPRS exactly, or there is a system sync delay. See our dedicated SHA Contributor Not Found guide for the specific causes and fixes.
Hit an error while registering or checking your number? Issues like “ID already registered,” IPRS verification failures, or a means-test session timing out are registration problems, not number-lookup problems — and they deserve their own fix, not a repeat here. See our full SHA registration problems and fixes guide for the exact cause and solution for each one.
SHA Customer Care: Toll-free line 0800 720 601 — available Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Use this number if none of the methods above locate your SHA number, or to confirm your registration status directly with SHA.
Keep Your SHA Number Handy — Quick Checklist
- Save your confirmation SMS or email as a screenshot for easy future reference
- Check your registration status any time via our SHA registration status guide
- Add an alternative phone number in My Profile so you never lose access to future confirmations
- Confirm your contribution history matches your account via SHA contribution history
- Know your Paybill for making payments — see SHA Paybill number
- Keep your registered phone number active — see our guide if you need to change your SHA phone number
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a SHA number?
A SHA number is the unique membership number the Social Health Authority generates for you when your registration is approved, sent by SMS and email. In practice you rarely need to quote it, because your National ID number is what you actually use to log in, verify your cover, and identify yourself at a hospital.
Is my SHA number the same as my National ID number?
They are linked but not identical. SHA generates a separate membership number tied to your account, but your National ID number is the one used as your login username on Afya Yangu and the one hospitals and the verify.sha.go.ke portal accept to check your status — so for day-to-day use, your ID number does the job.
How do I get my SHA number after registration?
Once your SHA registration is approved, whether done online via Afya Yangu, via *147#, or at a Huduma Centre, you receive a confirmation SMS and email containing your SHA membership number. Keep that message, since it is the easiest place to find the number later.
How do I check my SHA number online?
Log into afyayangu.go.ke with your National ID number and 4-digit PIN, then open My Profile, where your membership details are listed. You can also visit verify.sha.go.ke and search using your National ID number to confirm your registration and status.
Can I check my SHA number using *147#?
Yes. Dial *147# on the phone number registered with your SHA account and follow the menu to check your registration status. This also works if you registered offline and never logged into the Afya Yangu portal.
What is the difference between a SHA number and a SHIF number?
They refer to the same thing. SHIF (Social Health Insurance Fund) is the specific contributory fund SHA administers, so many Kenyans and even some official materials use “SHIF number” and “SHA number” interchangeably to mean the same membership number.
How does a SHA number look — is there a fixed format?
SHA has not published a fixed public format for the membership number, unlike the old NHIF card number which followed a recognisable pattern. This is exactly why most people end up relying on their National ID number instead — it has a consistent, familiar format and works as the identifier everywhere in the SHA system.
Is my old NHIF number the same as my SHA number?
No. SHA replaced NHIF and requires fresh registration even for former NHIF members. Your old NHIF number does not carry over automatically as your SHA number, though your historical NHIF contribution records are linked to your account during the transition. See our NHIF to SHA migration guide for details.
I never received my SHA number confirmation SMS. What do I do?
First check that the phone number on your registration is correct and active, since the confirmation SMS is sent only to that line. If the number is correct but nothing arrived, log into afyayangu.go.ke with your National ID and PIN to view your registration status directly, or call the SHA toll-free line 0800 720 601.
What is a SHA member number vs a SHA number?
They are the same thing described two ways — “member number” and “SHA number” both refer to the membership reference SHA generates on registration. You may also see it called a “registration number” in some places; all three terms point to the same identifier.
Do my dependants get their own SHA number?
Dependants — spouse and children you add on Afya Yangu — are linked under your SHA membership rather than issued a fully independent number. Once added via the Dependants section of your profile, they are covered under your account and contributions.
I’ve lost my SHA number and my old confirmation message. How do I retrieve it?
Log into afyayangu.go.ke with your National ID and PIN to view it under My Profile, use verify.sha.go.ke with your National ID number, dial *147# to check your status, or visit any SHA office or Huduma Centre with your original National ID for an officer to look it up for you.
Is there a fee to get or check my SHA number?
No. Registration and checking your SHA number through any official channel — Afya Yangu, *147#, verify.sha.go.ke, or a SHA office — is completely free.
What is my “SHA registration code” — is it different from the *147# code?
When people mention a “SHA registration code,” they usually mean their National ID number, which is what the system actually asks for. This is different from *147#, which is simply the USSD dial code used to reach SHA’s registration and status menu on your phone — not a personal code unique to you.
Disclaimer: MyCyber (mycyber.co.ke) is an independent educational website. We are not affiliated with the Social Health Authority (SHA), the Ministry of Health, or the Government of Kenya. This article explains SHA procedures based on official sources (sha.go.ke, afyayangu.go.ke, verify.sha.go.ke). Always verify current requirements directly with SHA before taking action. SHA toll-free: 0800 720 601. Source: SHA official portal, Afya Yangu portal, Social Health Insurance Act 2023.
