SHA USSD Code: How to Dial *147# and Use Every Menu Option
If your internet is patchy or you’d rather not deal with a browser at all, SHA’s entire self-service menu is available on a basic phone through one USSD code. Dial it, and you land in TaifaCare — SHA’s USSD system — where you can check your coverage status, pay contributions, appeal a charge, or update your details in under a minute, with no data bundle required.
How to dial *147# and check your status
Dial *147#
Open your phone’s dial pad and dial *147#, then press call. The menu opens with a “Welcome to TaifaCare” message.
Select your identification type
Choose the option that matches you: Kenyan Citizen, Foreign Citizen, or Refugee.
Enter your ID number
Type in your identification number and send. TaifaCare looks up your record against it.
Read your coverage status
The next screen shows your status. Most employed members will see something like “COVERED until 2026-09-10”, followed by the main menu.
1. Make Payment
2. Eligibility
3. Update Status
4. Contributions Appeal
5. My Profile
98. More
What each *147# menu option does
Once your status shows, TaifaCare gives you six numbered options. Here’s what to expect from each one:
1Make Payment
Pay your SHA/SHIF contribution directly through the USSD menu without switching to M-Pesa or a paybill screen separately.
2Eligibility
Re-check your coverage status on demand — the same “COVERED until” result you saw right after entering your ID number.
3Update Status
Update details tied to your account, such as your employment or civil status, the same fields covered during initial registration.
4Contributions Appeal
Raise an appeal against a contribution amount you believe is incorrect, directly from your phone.
5My Profile
View the profile details TaifaCare has on file for your account.
98More
Opens a secondary menu with additional services not shown on the main screen.
*147# is a standard USSD code, so it works from Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom lines. You don’t need a smartphone, an app, or a data bundle — a basic phone with airtime for the session is enough.
FAQ: SHA USSD Code
What is the SHA USSD code?
The SHA USSD code is *147#. Dialing it on any mobile phone opens the TaifaCare menu, where you can check your coverage status, make payments, appeal contributions, and update your profile without internet access.
What does “Welcome to TaifaCare” mean when I dial *147#?
TaifaCare is the name of the USSD system behind SHA’s *147# code. The welcome message is simply the menu’s landing screen before it asks you to select your identification type.
How do I check my SHA coverage status via USSD?
Dial *147#, select your identification type, and enter your ID number. The next screen shows your coverage status, typically displayed as “COVERED until” a specific date for employed members.
What are the *147# menu options after checking status?
After your status is shown, the menu offers six options: Make Payment, Eligibility, Update Status, Contributions Appeal, My Profile, and More (98) for additional services.
Do I need internet or a smartphone to use the SHA USSD code?
No. *147# works on any mobile phone, including basic feature phones, and needs no internet connection or app.
Stuck on a Menu Option?
If a payment fails, an appeal won’t go through, or your status won’t update, send us the details on WhatsApp and we’ll help you sort it.
WhatsApp Us NowUSSD flow verified by dialing *147# directly. Verified September 2026.
