Registering for the Social Health Authority (SHA) is only the first step if you want your family to benefit from your health cover. Spouses and eligible children need to be properly captured as dependants on the SHA system so that their details are available when they need to access healthcare.
If you registered yourself but forgot to add your family members, you can update your household information through the SHA system. The Authority has previously urged members to add and update dependant details to help ensure smoother access to healthcare services. Here is what you need to know about adding a spouse or child to your SHA cover.
Who Can Be Added as a SHA Dependant?
SHA allows members to register eligible family members as dependants. These can include:
- A spouse
- Biological children
- Adopted children
- Children under your legal care or guardianship
- Certain other eligible dependants, depending on their circumstances
The documents required depend on the relationship and age of the person you are adding.
For children under 18, for example, a birth certificate or birth notification reference may be required. Older children may need a National ID, while those continuing their education beyond certain age limits may need proof of school enrolment.
What Do You Need to Add a Dependant to SHA?
Before you begin, have the dependant’s identification details available. Depending on the person you are adding, you may need:
- National ID or other approved identification
- Birth certificate or birth notification details for a child
- Marriage certificate for a spouse
- Relevant adoption documents for an adopted child
- Court or guardianship documents where applicable
- The dependant’s phone number, where required for verification
It is important that the names and identification details you enter match the person’s official records. Incorrect information can result in verification problems or delays.
Do You Need a Marriage Certificate to Add a Spouse?
A marriage certificate may be used to verify a spouse. SHA guidance has also provided alternative documentation in some circumstances, including an affidavit or a letter from the area chief. The spouse’s phone number may also be required because SHA can send an OTP to confirm their consent.
For families considering fertility treatment, our guide on SHA IVF requirements and the marriage certificate clarification explains who may qualify and what the government has clarified about access to IVF under SHA.
How to Add Dependants to SHA Online
If you already have a SHA account, you can manage your household information through the SHA member platform.
Step 1: Log in to your SHA account
Visit the official SHA website and select the member login option. The current SHA login page requires your identification type, ID number and the phone number registered to your ID.
Make sure you use the same details you used when registering for SHA.
Step 2: Open your profile
Once you have successfully logged in, go to your member profile and look for the section relating to your household or dependants.
The exact appearance of the portal may change as SHA updates its digital services, so look for the option that allows you to manage or update dependant information rather than relying on an older menu layout.
Step 3: Select the option to add a dependant
Choose the option to add a new dependant and indicate your relationship with that person.
Depending on the circumstances, the relationship may be listed as spouse, biological child, adopted child or another eligible category.
Step 4: Enter the dependant’s details
Enter the requested information carefully.
This may include the dependant’s:
- Full name
- Identification type
- Identification number
- Date of birth
- Phone number
- Relationship to you
For children who do not yet have a National ID, the relevant birth registration details may be used.
Step 5: Complete verification
SHA may require the dependant’s information to be verified before the person is added to your household.
For some adult dependants, this can involve an OTP sent to their registered phone number. The dependant may need to provide consent before the registration is completed.
Step 6: Submit and confirm the details
Review all the information before submitting it.
Pay particular attention to names, identification numbers and dates of birth. Once the information has been submitted and verified, check your SHA profile to confirm that the dependant has been successfully captured.
How to Add Your Children to SHA
Adding children is slightly different because the documentation required depends on their age and circumstances. For a biological child below 18, SHA may require the child’s birth certificate or birth notification reference. Older children may use their National ID, while children who remain eligible as dependants beyond certain age limits may need additional proof, such as evidence of school enrolment.
Adopted children can also be registered, although adoption documentation may be required. Legal guardians may similarly need documents confirming their parental or guardianship responsibilities.
How to Add Your Spouse to SHA
To add your spouse, you will generally need to provide their identification details and evidence of the relationship. A marriage certificate can be used for verification. SHA has also recognised alternative documentation in certain circumstances, including an affidavit or letter from the area chief. Your spouse may also need to provide consent through an OTP sent to their phone.
One important point is that your spouse may need to be registered with SHA themselves before you can add them as your dependant. If the system does not recognise your spouse, completing their own SHA registration first may resolve the problem.
What About Children Aged 7 to 17?
There is an additional development that parents and guardians should know about in 2026. SHA has rolled out biometric verification for registered child dependants aged 7 to 17 years. The programme is intended to strengthen identification of beneficiaries and reduce fraud. Parents or legal guardians are required to provide consent before a child’s fingerprints are captured.
This means that adding a child to your SHA household is not necessarily the final step. Eligible children may also need to complete the required biometric verification when accessing services.
Can I Add Dependants After Registering for SHA?
Yes. You do not necessarily have to add every dependant at the exact moment you first register for SHA. If you completed your own registration and later realized that your spouse or children were missing from your household information, you can update your dependant details through the SHA system.
This is particularly important because registering yourself does not automatically mean that every member of your family has been properly captured. Each eligible dependant should have their details recorded and verified.
What If I Cannot Add My Dependant Online?
If the online process does not work, first check that your own SHA registration is complete and that the dependant’s identification details are correct.
Also check that:
- The dependant is eligible under SHA rules.
- Their identification details are accurate.
- Required supporting documents are available.
- The dependant’s phone number is correctly registered where OTP verification is required.
- Your spouse or adult dependant has completed their own SHA registration where necessary.
If you are still unable to complete the process, SHA provides assisted enrolment and support through its official channels. The Authority’s website currently lists web self-registration, USSD self-registration and assisted enrolment as ways of accessing its services.
Why Is It Important to Add Your Dependants to SHA?
Adding your dependants ensures that the people who are eligible to receive healthcare under your household are properly captured in the SHA system.
It can also prevent unnecessary problems when a family member needs treatment. If a child or spouse is missing from your household records, you may have to resolve the registration or verification issue before they can access services as an eligible dependant.
For this reason, it is better to update your household information before there is a medical emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adding Dependants to SHA
Can I add my child to SHA without a National ID?
Yes. Children who do not have a National ID can use the appropriate birth registration documentation, such as a birth certificate or birth notification details, depending on the child’s circumstances.
Does my spouse have to register for SHA separately?
Your spouse may need to have their own SHA registration completed before they can be added to your household as a dependant. If the system cannot verify your spouse, check that they are already registered.
Do I need a marriage certificate to add my spouse to SHA?
A marriage certificate can be used to verify your relationship. SHA has also recognised alternative documentation in certain circumstances, including an affidavit or a letter from the area chief.
Can I add an adopted child to SHA?
Yes. Adopted children can be registered as dependants, although you may need to provide the relevant adoption documentation.
Can a guardian add a child to SHA?
Yes, where the guardian has the required legal authority and supporting documentation. Court-appointed guardians may be required to provide documents confirming their parental responsibilities.
How do I know if my dependant has been successfully added?
After completing the process, check your SHA member profile and household/dependant information. You can also use SHA’s coverage-status service to check whether a beneficiary is captured in the system.
What should I do if my dependant’s details are wrong?
Try to update the information through your SHA profile. If the error cannot be corrected online, contact SHA or use its assisted enrolment services so that the records can be corrected.
Related SHA Guides
- SHA Kenya Guide: Benefits, Coverage & Latest Updates – Our comprehensive guide to SHA, including healthcare benefits, contributions, hospital access, policy changes and frequently asked questions.
- Why Kenyan Hospitals Have Refused to Sign SHA Reconciliation Agreements – Find out why some hospitals have raised concerns about SHA reconciliation agreements and what the dispute means for patients.
- SHA IVF Requirements: Marriage Certificate Clarification – Understand the requirements surrounding IVF treatment under SHA and the clarification on marriage certificates.
- SHA and Treatment Abroad: A Lifeline for Kenyans or Another Promise That’s Hard to Reach? – Explore how SHA handles treatment abroad and the challenges Kenyans requiring specialized overseas care may face.
- What’s Really Happening with AON? A Simple Breakdown for Kenyan Civil Servants – A closer look at the changes affecting medical cover for Kenyan civil servants and the role of AON.
Adding your spouse and children to SHA is an important part of managing your household’s health coverage. While the process is largely digital, verification requirements vary depending on whether you are adding a spouse, biological child, adopted child or another eligible dependant.
If you have already registered for SHA, do not assume that your entire family has automatically been added. Log into your account, check your household information and make sure every eligible dependant is correctly captured and verified.
