SHA Registration Channels in Kenya: Which One to Use

SHA Registration Channels in Kenya: USSD, Afya Yangu Portal and Assisted Registration

SHA registration channels are the official ways to register for SHA: dial *147# on any phone with no internet, use the Afya Yangu portal at afyayangu.go.ke, ask a Community Health Promoter, or visit a SHA branch or Huduma Centre. Registration is free. If you have no internet, use *147#. If you want to complete your profile online, use Afya Yangu. For help choosing, call 0800 720 601.

Most people only need one of these SHA registration channels, and the right one depends on whether you have internet, how comfortable you are with a phone, and whether anything has gone wrong. This guide compares all four, shows what each one asks for, and tells you which to pick. Every channel leads to the same SHA record, so the one you choose does not change your cover or what you pay.

SHA Registration Channels at a Glance

SHA’s own registration guide lists four ways to register. Anyone living in Kenya should register, including citizens, residents and refugees.

Channel	Internet needed	Best for	Where
USSD	No	Any phone, including basic phones	Dial *147#
Afya Yangu portal	Yes	Smartphone or computer users who want to fill in their profile online	afyayangu.go.ke
Community Health Promoter	No, the CHP helps you	People who need someone to do it with them	Your local CHP
SHA branch or Huduma Centre	No	Errors, ID problems or anyone who prefers in person	Find a SHA office

SHA’s registration guide does not list a separate “SHA app” channel. The Afya Yangu app is a way into the same member platform, covered in our Afya Yangu app guide.

Which SHA Registration Channel Should You Use?

Your situation	Best SHA registration channel
You have no internet or only a basic phone	USSD *147#
You have a smartphone with data and want to fill in your profile	Afya Yangu portal
You are not comfortable with phones, or you are elderly	A Community Health Promoter. See assisted SHA registration
You get “ID not found” or another error	A SHA office or Huduma Centre. See SHA ID not found
You have no ID or cannot be identified	SHA registration for unidentified persons
You are an employer registering staff	SHA employer registration

SHA Registration Channel 1: USSD *147# (No Internet)

This is the easiest SHA registration channel if you have no data. It works on any phone and costs nothing to start. SHA’s guide sets out the menu options below.

How to register for SHA on *147#

Dial *147# and press send.
Choose your ID type if asked, then enter your ID number and send.
Choose 1 to proceed. Option 2 declines. Options 3 and 4 send you the terms and privacy links.
Set a four-digit PIN and confirm it.
Choose your employment status: 1 Employed, 2 Self-employed, 3 Unemployed.
Choose your civil status: 1 Single, 2 Married, 3 Divorced, 4 Widow, 6 Widower, as numbered in SHA’s guide.
Declare any disability: 1 Yes, 2 No.

The screens can vary a little, so follow what appears on your phone. The full walk-through is in our SHA USSD code guide.

SHA Registration Channel 2: Afya Yangu Portal

The SHA website sends you to the Afya Yangu platform, which is where your SHA account lives. You can register directly at afyayangu.go.ke.

How to register for SHA on the Afya Yangu portal

Open afyayangu.go.ke and choose to sign up.
Select your ID type, then enter your ID number, first name and phone number.
Enter the OTP sent to that phone.
Complete your profile, such as next of kin and county details.

The portal is the better choice when you want to add details at your own pace. It needs internet, so if the page will not load, switch to *147#. For the screen-by-screen steps, see SHA registration online, and for signing in later, Afya Yangu portal login.

SHA Registration Channel 3: Community Health Promoter

Community Health Promoters, or CHPs, are local health workers who can register you with SHA. This is the best SHA registration channel for people who find phones confusing or who live far from an office. Ask your local health centre or village leadership how to reach the CHP in your area. Registration is free, so do not pay anyone who offers to do it for you.

SHA Registration Channel 4: SHA Office or Huduma Centre

Any SHA branch or Huduma Centre can register you in person. This is the channel to use when other routes fail, for example when SHA says your ID is not found. Take your original ID. You can find a SHA office near you in all 47 counties.

What You Need Before Using Any SHA Registration Channel

Your ID number and the ID type you hold
Your first name exactly as it appears on your ID
A phone number you control, since the OTP and PIN depend on it

Whichever channel you use, a wrong ID number or a phone line you no longer use causes most failures. See SHA registration problems if something goes wrong.

After You Register Through Any SHA Registration Channel

Registering creates your SHA record. It does not by itself make your cover active, because you still have to pay your contribution. Follow these in order:

Confirm you are registered with the SHA registration status check.
Complete the premium assessment if you are self-employed or unemployed. See the SHA means test.
Pay your contribution. See how to pay SHA via M-Pesa.
Check that the cover is active: how to activate your SHA account.

Keep your ID type, PIN and CR number safe. They are explained in SHA account and details.

SHA Registration Channels FAQs

What are the SHA registration channels?

There are four official channels: USSD on *147#, the Afya Yangu portal, assisted registration through a Community Health Promoter, and in-person registration at a SHA branch or Huduma Centre.

Which SHA registration channel is easiest?

For most people it is USSD on *147#, because it works on any phone with no internet. If you have a smartphone and data, the Afya Yangu portal lets you fill in your profile online.

Can I register for SHA without internet?

Yes. Dial *147# on any phone and follow the prompts. You can also ask a Community Health Promoter, or visit a SHA branch or Huduma Centre, neither of which needs you to have internet.

Does SHA registration require biometrics?

The official steps for USSD and the portal do not include biometrics. The Digital Health Agency has said fingerprint verification is used for adults at the point of care, which means when you get treatment.

How much does it cost to register for SHA?

Registration is free on every channel. What you pay afterwards is the contribution: 2.75% of gross income for employed members, and a means-tested amount from KES 300 a month for self-employed and informal workers.

How do I check my SHA registration status or activate it?

Check your status at eligibility.sha.go.ke with your ID number, or on *147#. Your cover becomes active once your contribution is paid. Call 0800 720 601 if the status looks wrong.

Related SHA Registration Channels Guides

SHA USSD code *147#Every menu option, step by step. SHA registration onlineRegister on the Afya Yangu portal. Assisted SHA registrationGet walked through it in person. SHA registration problemsErrors, OTP issues and ID not found.

Not Sure Which SHA Registration Channel to Use?

Send us a WhatsApp message and tell us what phone you have and what you see on the screen. We tell you the price before you pay. We never ask for your PIN or OTP.

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SHA Registration Channels Sources

Disclaimer: MyCyber is an independent educational website and assistance service, not affiliated with SHA, the Digital Health Agency or the Government of Kenya. Menus and screens can change. Confirm at sha.go.ke or call 0800 720 601.