What is the SHA USSD code?

*147#. Dial it from any Kenyan mobile network (Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom). It is toll-free, SHA absorbs the session cost.

What can I do on *147#?

Register as a new member, check your contribution status, verify your member number, add or view dependants, enrol in Lipa Pole Pole, and receive a summary of your recent activity. For full functionality (documents, dependant editing, means test), use afyayangu.go.ke.

Does *147# work if I do not have M-PESA?

Yes. *147# is a SHA service, not a Safaricom or M-PESA service. It works on any Kenyan SIM.

What if the USSD session times out?

Redial and start again. USSD sessions have a short timeout window (usually 2 minutes). If you keep timing out during a specific step, try during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening), or switch to afyayangu.go.ke on a browser.

Which network handles *147# best?

SHA does not publish carrier-specific performance figures. Anecdotal reports vary. If one network drops your session repeatedly, try another SIM if you have one.

SHA USSD guide: *147# explained step by step (Kenya 2026)

What `*147#` is

*147# is SHA's Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) shortcut. It runs on the mobile-network signalling layer, meaning it works on any Kenyan SIM without an internet connection and does not use airtime credit, SHA absorbs the session cost. This makes it the primary access channel for Kenyans without smartphones or reliable data.

SHA also publishes the toll-free helpline 0800 720 601 for cases USSD cannot resolve.

SHA does not publish a complete printed menu tree on sha.go.ke. What follows is the working menu as observed on Safaricom on 26 August 2026, cross-checked against SHA's registration documentation [Source 1]. Menu wording and numbering can change without notice; treat this as guidance not gospel.

1. Register

For Kenyans not yet registered with SHA. The USSD path asks for your National ID and first name for verification, then guides you through a short set of household questions. Confirmation SMS follows. Full walkthrough: How to register for SHA.

2. Check contribution status

Shows your most recent contribution amount and date, and whether your coverage is currently active. Use this after paying Paybill 200222 to confirm SHA acknowledged the payment. Usually reflects within an hour of the M-PESA confirmation SMS. Fuller confirmation guide: How to check your SHA payment went through.

3. Retrieve member number

If you forget or never received your SHA member number, this option retrieves it and SMSes it to your phone. Requires that the phone number you are dialling from is the one registered with SHA.

4. View or add dependants

Lists the dependants currently on your SHA record. Adding new dependants via USSD is possible but limited; complex cases (spouse verification, dependant with different surname, minor without birth certificate) usually need afyayangu.go.ke or a branch visit. Detail: SHA household coverage.

5. Update personal details

Limited to safe fields: phone number, address. Higher-risk fields (name, ID number, marital status) are gated to branch visits or portal action with supporting documents. Detail: How to update your SHA details.

6. Lipa Pole Pole enrolment

Enrols you in SHA's 2-year instalment plan for arrears. USSD path shows the assessed monthly amount and schedules the recurring debit. Coverage does not activate until the 4-month upfront amount is paid. Full detail: SHA Lipa Pole Pole explained.

7. Speak to an agent / helpline

Some SHA USSD flows offer a menu option to trigger a callback from an agent, though the toll-free 0800 720 601 is generally faster.

What USSD does not do

Not every SHA task is on USSD. For the following, use afyayangu.go.ke or a physical branch:

Full Means Testing Instrument for Tier 2 (household income assessment).
Uploading documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, employer letters).
Bulk dependant management (more than one add or remove per session).
Downloading contribution statements.
Complaint escalation and appeals.
Employer bulk remittance (that is employers.sha.go.ke, not *147#).

Common USSD failures and workarounds

"Session timed out"

USSD sessions time out fast, often at 2 minutes. If you pause to look up your ID or think about an option, the network drops the call. Redial *147#, have your ID and details ready in advance, and move through the menu without stopping.

"System busy, please try again"

SHA's USSD gateway has known congestion around end-of-month and immediately after payroll cycles (when many Tier 1 employees check contribution status). Off-peak hours (early morning, late evening, weekends) usually clear faster.

"Invalid ID number"

Either you mistyped, or SHA does not have you on file yet. Double-check the ID (digits only, no spaces). If it still fails, you may not be registered. Choose the Register option on the same USSD menu, or use afyayangu.go.ke.

"Duplicate registration" or old NHIF confusion

Common for members who had NHIF pre-October 2024. The auto-migration to SHA sometimes created dual records. USSD cannot merge these; visit a SHA branch with your ID card and your old NHIF card if you still have it. See SHA registration problems and fixes.

USSD works but portal does not

If *147# confirms a payment but afyayangu.go.ke does not, that is a portal cache or batch delay. Wait 24 to 72 hours from the original M-PESA SMS. If still absent, escalate to 0800 720 601. See SHA payment not reflecting.

Network notes

*147# is a SHA-owned shortcode, not a Safaricom one. It routes over any Kenyan mobile network. In practice, session performance varies by carrier and time of day; SHA does not publish reliability metrics.

Do not confuse *147# with *254#. *254# is Safaricom's Hustler Fund and M-PESA Ratiba shortcode, and is separately used by SHA to set up recurring Lipa Pole Pole standing orders (see Lipa Pole Pole explained). It is not a general SHA member portal.

A note on privacy

USSD sessions on shared handsets leave no persistent app history but do show ID numbers and contribution figures on-screen during the session. If you are on a borrowed phone, wait for the session to close (usually a few seconds after the last screen) before returning it.

Sources

SHA USSD shortcode *147#, per sha.go.ke/register, accessed 26 August 2026. Register walkthrough and USSD prompts documented on the same page.
SHA toll-free helpline 0800 720 601, per sha.go.ke/contactus, accessed 26 August 2026.
SHA member portal afyayangu.go.ke, employer portal employers.sha.go.ke, per sha.go.ke navigation.
SHA Lipa Pole Pole and *254# Ratiba integration: sha.go.ke/lipa-pole-pole, accessed 26 August 2026.
Menu wording may change without notice; this page describes the menu observed on 26 August 2026 on Safaricom and cross-checked against SHA registration documentation.