Last reviewed October 2026
- Issued by
- Social Health Authority (SHA), which took over from NHIF in 2024
- Valid for
- A fixed period stated on the certificate; check the current practice
- Who needs it
- Every employer; tenders list it alongside the NSSF certificate
- Where to apply
- The SHA employer portal at sha.go.ke
- Cost
- No fee for the certificate; contributions and any arrears must be paid
What it is
The Social Health Authority replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund in 2024 under the Social Health Insurance Act, and employers now remit health contributions to SHA for the Social Health Insurance Fund. The SHA compliance certificate is the Authority's confirmation that an employer is registered and has remitted contributions for its employees up to the date of issue.
Tenders drafted before the change still ask for an NHIF compliance certificate. An SHA certificate is the current equivalent; attach it and, where a tender's wording is unclear, ask the entity in writing.
Who must have it
Every employer in Kenya must register with SHA and deduct and remit contributions for its employees. Like NSSF, the certificate is asked for from every bidder at preliminary evaluation, so a firm with only directors should register and contribute for them.
Documents you need
- Certificate of incorporation or business name registration
- KRA PIN certificate
- A list of employees with their national IDs and SHA registration
- Evidence of contributions remitted for the period, when applying for the certificate
- Any transitional detail the portal asks for, such as the former NHIF employer code
How to apply, step by step
- Register the firm as an employer on the SHA employer portal; an employer previously with NHIF should check whether its record has been carried over.
- Confirm each employee is registered with SHA.
- Each month, deduct the contribution at the rate SHA publishes, file the return and remit by the deadline.
- When a tender needs it, apply for the compliance certificate on the portal. The Authority checks the account and issues it.
- Clear any arrears shown before applying again.
Validity and renewal
The certificate states its validity. The rules, rates and portal are newer than most statutory systems and have changed more than once since 2024, so check sha.go.ke for the current position rather than relying on what worked last year. Monthly remittances on time are what make the certificate available when a tender needs it.
Why bids get thrown out over it
- An old NHIF certificate was attached after it had expired, with no SHA certificate.
- The certificate had expired before the closing date.
- The firm had not completed its SHA employer registration and could not obtain one in time.
How Tendakazi helps
The vault tracks the certificate's expiry and our analysts check each tender's wording, NHIF or SHA, against what you hold. Our accounting team can run the monthly payroll deductions, including SHA, so the account stays clear, and employer registration can be ordered as a quoted service.
Questions
A tender asks for an NHIF compliance certificate. What do I attach?
The SHA compliance certificate, which is the current equivalent. If the tender's wording is unclear, ask the procuring entity in writing before the clarification deadline.
Do I need both NSSF and SHA certificates?
Usually yes. Most tenders list both as mandatory documents.
How long is an SHA compliance certificate valid?
The validity is stated on the certificate. Check the current practice on sha.go.ke.
We were registered with NHIF. Do we register again?
Check the SHA employer portal; employer records were migrated, but confirm yours is active and complete before relying on it.
Not registered with SHA yet? We register the firm as an employer as a quoted service, and the certificate goes into your vault with its expiry watched.
Read next
General information for suppliers, not legal, tax or financial advice. Procurement law, regulations, thresholds and government systems change: check the current rules with the procuring entity, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), the National Treasury or KRA, and speak to an advocate or tax adviser about your own case.