How to Add a Child on SHA

In the wake of mass registration for the Social Health Authority (SHA) across the country, the government has simplified the process of adding a child to the new health insurance scheme.

Parents wishing to add their biological child to the scheme have been advised to log in to their SHA portal and input the child’s birth certificate number.

For a child who is below six months of age, the parent will be required to provide a birth notification or birth certificate and a passport-size photo.

According to the government, a person seeking to add their newborn to the scheme must first inform the Health Authority 14 days for approval before commencing the process.

Similarly, a beneficiary seeking to add their spouse to the health scheme must first ensure that their spouse is registered on SHA through the Afya Yangu portal.

Once your spouse is registered, you will need to provide their national identity number and first name and confirm whether a marriage certificate or affidavit is required.

Subsequently, a One-Time Password (OTP) will be sent to your partner’s registered phone number for verification by the health authority.

Your partner will be required to enter the OTP to check whether they are a contributor or a dependant. After verification, you will need to click the ‘submit’ button to complete the process.

The announcement comes hours after Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa assured Kenyans of the government’s commitment to addressing challenges arising from the new health scheme.

Speaking on Citizen TV on Wednesday, December 25, the CS noted that the current challenges facing SHA beneficiaries were transitional problems that would be resolved by adjusting the system’s functionality.

“The programme is less than 100 days old, so these are transitioning challenges but we are committed to improving the efficacy of the system and this is through engagement,” CS Deborah assured.

“We are looking to routinely capacity build, have mentors and supportive supervisors within the county and regional level so that they can always engage with the health providers to ensure a seamless transition,” she added.