SHIF Contribution Calculator — Kenya (2026)
Compute the SHIF contribution at 2.75% of gross pay. Supports monthly or annual inputs and allowance handling.
Assumptions & Notes
SHIF policy reference for 2025.
Base used
Method & Rounding
How This SHIF Calculator Works
Understanding the step-by-step process of SHIF contribution calculation in Kenya
Step 1: Determine Your Gross Pay Base
We start by identifying your gross pay, which is the base for SHIF calculations. This includes your basic salary plus any taxable allowances. You can choose to include or exclude non-taxable allowances based on your employer's policy.
Step 2: Apply the 2.75% SHIF Rate
SHIF is calculated at a flat rate of 2.75% of your gross pay. Unlike the old NHIF system which used fixed bands, SHIF is percentage-based. For example, if your gross pay is KES 50,000, your SHIF contribution is KES 1,375 (2.75% of 50,000).
Step 3: Apply the KES 300 Minimum
If your calculated SHIF (2.75% of gross) is less than KES 300, the minimum contribution of KES 300 applies. This ensures everyone contributes at least KES 300 per month regardless of income level. There is no upper cap - higher earners pay proportionally more.
Step 4: Calculate Final SHIF Contribution
Your final SHIF is the higher of: (1) 2.75% of gross pay, or (2) KES 300 minimum. SHIF is tax-deductible since December 27, 2024, meaning it reduces your taxable income before PAYE calculation. This provides an indirect tax benefit on your SHIF contributions.
Understanding Your SHIF Results
What each line in your SHIF breakdown means and how to interpret your contributions
Monthly SHIF Contribution
This is the amount deducted from your salary each month for health insurance. It's calculated as 2.75% of your gross pay (or KES 300 minimum, whichever is higher). This replaces the old NHIF contribution and provides universal health coverage under the new SHA system.
Annual SHIF Total
Your total SHIF contributions for the year, calculated by multiplying your monthly SHIF by 12. This helps you understand your annual health insurance cost and plan your finances accordingly. Unlike NHIF which capped at KES 20,400/year, SHIF has no upper limit.
Gross Pay Base
The amount used to calculate your SHIF contribution. This is typically your basic salary plus taxable allowances. Non-taxable allowances like house allowance may be excluded depending on your employer's policy. Verify with your HR department which allowances are included.
Tax Deductibility
Since December 27, 2024, SHIF contributions are tax-deductible before PAYE calculation. This means if you earn KES 100,000 and contribute KES 2,750 to SHIF, your taxable income becomes KES 97,250, reducing your PAYE tax liability and providing indirect tax savings.
No Employer Contribution
Unlike NSSF where employers contribute an equal amount, SHIF is solely an employee contribution. Your employer deducts and remits your SHIF but does not add any employer portion. The 2.75% comes entirely from your salary.
Minimum vs Percentage
The calculator shows which applies to you: the KES 300 minimum or the 2.75% calculation. Low earners (below ~KES 10,910/month) pay the minimum. Higher earners pay 2.75% with no upper cap, unlike NHIF which capped at KES 1,700/month.
When to Use This SHIF Calculator
Common scenarios where this calculator helps you understand your health insurance contributions
1 Verify Payslip Deductions
Check if your employer is deducting the correct SHIF amount from your salary. Enter your gross pay and compare the calculated SHIF with what appears on your payslip. Discrepancies may indicate payroll errors or different allowance treatment.
2 Compare SHIF vs Old NHIF
Understand how much more (or less) you're paying under SHIF compared to the old NHIF system. SHIF is percentage-based with no cap, while NHIF used fixed bands capping at KES 1,700. Higher earners typically pay significantly more under SHIF.
3 Calculate Tax Savings
Determine how much your SHIF contributions reduce your taxable income. Since SHIF became tax-deductible in late 2024, you can see the indirect tax benefit. Use this with PAYE calculators to understand your total tax impact.
4 Budget for Health Insurance
Plan your monthly and annual budget by knowing exactly how much goes to SHIF. Unlike NHIF's predictable bands, SHIF scales with your income, so salary increases directly affect your health insurance cost. Factor this into salary negotiations.
5 Evaluate Job Offers
When comparing job offers with different salary structures, calculate SHIF for each to understand the true take-home impact. A higher gross salary means higher SHIF contributions, which affects your net pay differently than under the old NHIF system.
6 Understand Allowance Impact
See how including or excluding different allowances affects your SHIF contribution. Some employers include all allowances in the SHIF base, while others exclude non-taxable allowances. Use the toggles to match your company's policy.
Official Data Sources
Our SHIF calculations are based on official government regulations and Kenya health insurance legislation
- Social Health Authority (SHA) — Official SHIF contribution rates and health insurance regulations. SHA manages the Social Health Insurance Fund that replaced NHIF in October 2024.
- Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) — Tax deductibility rules for SHIF contributions effective December 27, 2024, and integration with PAYE calculations.
- Social Health Insurance Act, 2023 — The legal framework governing SHIF contributions. This Act defines the 2.75% rate, KES 300 minimum, and universal health coverage implementation.
- 2026 SHIF Regulations — Current rate: 2.75% of gross pay with KES 300 minimum per month. No upper cap. Tax-deductible since December 27, 2024. Replaces NHIF's fixed band system.
- Last Verified: . We verify our rates against official SHA publications and government gazettes. Current rates are valid for 2026.
Real-World SHIF Examples (2026)
See how SHIF contributions work across different salary levels with actual 2026 rates
Low Income (KES 15,000/month)
Gross Pay: KES —
2.75% Calculation: KES —
Actual SHIF: KES —
Annual SHIF: KES —
Mid-Level (KES 80,000/month)
Gross Pay: KES —
2.75% Calculation: KES —
Actual SHIF: KES —
Annual SHIF: KES —
Senior Manager (KES 200,000/month)
Gross Pay: KES —
2.75% Calculation: KES —
Actual SHIF: KES —
Annual SHIF: KES —
Annual Salary (KES 1,200,000/year)
Monthly Equivalent: KES —
Monthly SHIF: KES —
Annual SHIF: KES —
vs Old NHIF: +KES —/year
SHIF — FAQs
Short answers about SHIF contributions in Kenya.
Typically taxable allowances are included; non‑taxable allowances are excluded. Use the options to match your policy.
SHIF is an employee contribution at 2.75% of the base. There is no separate employer SHIF in this calculator.
Use the Net Pay or Gross → Net calculators to see full PAYE/NSSF/SHIF/Housing impact on take‑home pay.
SHIF is 2.75% of the monthly base with a minimum of KES 300 per month. There is no upper cap.
Annual inputs are divided by 12, SHIF is computed monthly, then totals are multiplied by 12 for the annual figure.
SHIF is tax‑deductible only for periods on/after 2024‑12‑27. Before that date it does not reduce the PAYE base.
Base = gross pay plus any allowances you choose to include. Use the toggles to include/exclude taxable and non‑taxable allowances.
If 2.75% of your base is less than KES 300, the minimum of KES 300 is used for that month.
No. SHIF has no upper limit — unlike NHIF which capped at KES 1,700.
SHIF replaced NHIF in Oct 2024. SHIF is percentage‑based (2.75%) with a KES 300 minimum; NHIF used fixed bands.
Yes. Use “Copy share link” to generate a URL that restores your inputs and auto‑computes on load.
Figures are rounded to the nearest shilling for display. Internally, arithmetic is done before final rounding.
Under NHIF, contributions were capped at KES 1,700/month (KES 20,400/year) for those earning above KES 100,000. Under SHIF at 2.75%, someone earning KES 100,000 pays KES 2,750/month (KES 33,000/year) - an increase of KES 12,600 annually. Lower earners may pay less under SHIF due to the percentage-based system.
SHIF officially replaced NHIF in October 2024 as part of Kenya's Universal Health Coverage (UHC) reforms under the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023. The transition moved from NHIF's fixed band system to SHIF's percentage-based contribution model.
Yes, SHIF is mandatory for all Kenyan residents, including self-employed individuals and informal sector workers. Self-employed persons must register and remit their own SHIF contributions based on their declared income, with the same 2.75% rate and KES 300 minimum applying.
Employed individuals are automatically registered by their employers. Self-employed persons can register through the Social Health Authority (SHA) portal at www.sha.go.ke or visit SHA offices. You'll need your ID/passport and KRA PIN for registration.
SHIF provides comprehensive health coverage including outpatient services, inpatient care, maternity services, emergency care, chronic disease management, and surgical procedures at accredited public and private facilities. Coverage is more extensive than the old NHIF system.
While SHIF is legally an employee contribution, some employers may choose to pay it as a benefit. However, if the employer pays your SHIF, it's typically treated as a taxable benefit and added to your gross income for tax purposes, unless specifically exempted.
Non-payment of SHIF can result in penalties, interest charges, and loss of health coverage. For employed individuals, employers are legally required to deduct and remit SHIF. Failure to comply can lead to legal action against the employer. Self-employed individuals risk losing access to SHA health services.
If you work multiple jobs, each employer deducts SHIF based on what they pay you. Your total SHIF contributions from all employers are combined. Unlike NSSF which has caps per employer, SHIF has no upper limit, so you'll pay 2.75% on your combined income from all sources.