# What is DHA certification for health apps and systems in Kenya?

_DHA certification shows a digital health system meets Kenya's national standards for function, security and data exchange. What it covers, and what not._

Canonical: https://guides.mywellnesshealth.co.ke/guides/what-is-dha-certification

Author: My Wellness Health, Editorial team · Reviewed by: the My Wellness Health clinical team on 7 Oct 2026

Last updated: 7 Oct 2026 · Published by My Wellness Health — Preventive Healthcare & Care Navigation

> DHA certification is the Digital Health Agency's confirmation that a digital health system, such as a health app, electronic health record or pharmacy system, meets Kenya's national standards. Certifying digital health solutions is one of the Agency's functions under section 6 of the Digital Health Act, 2023.

**Legal basis:** Digital Health Act, 2023
_Act No. 15 of 2023, assented to on 19 October 2023_

**What is DHA certification?: the key facts**

| What was checked | What it means for you | How to verify | Next step |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What a system does for patients and clinicians, how it reports to public-health programmes, how it protects data, and whether it can exchange records with other systems using national standards. | When you use a certified system, an independent national body has tested it. It does not mean DHA has reviewed a doctor's advice or the outcome of any treatment. | Every certificate is listed in DHA's public registry at certification.dha.go.ke, with its status and expiry date. | Before you share your health details with an app, look it up in the registry. |

## What is DHA certification?: your questions answered

**Q: Who is the Digital Health Agency?**

A: A national agency established under section 5 of the Digital Health Act, 2023. Its functions include developing Kenya's Comprehensive Integrated Health Information System, promoting health data portability and certifying digital health solutions.

**Q: What kinds of systems are certified?**

A: DHA's registry lists categories including electronic health records (EHR), health management information systems (HMIS), pharmacy information management systems, health insurance platforms and mobile health applications (mHealth).

**Q: What is tested?**

A: Typically functionality (for example capturing patient details and clinical summaries), reporting to public-health programmes, security (authentication, audit trails, encryption, backups) and interoperability with Kenya's health information exchange using the FHIR standard.

**Q: Does certification mean a clinic or doctor is approved?**

A: No. Certification is about the digital system. Health workers and facilities are licensed separately by their regulatory bodies.

**Q: Does a certificate last forever?**

A: No. Each certificate has an expiry date shown in the registry. For example, My Wellness Health's certificate runs from October 2026 to October 2028.

**Q: Where can I read the law?**

A: The Digital Health Act, 2023 is published by Kenya Law and on the Digital Health Agency's website.

## Sources

- [Digital Health Agency registry and the Digital Health Act, 2023](https://certification.dha.go.ke/listing/CERT-2026-SJ4B36Q6)
- [Digital Health Act No. 15 of 2023 (sections 5 and 6)](https://admin.dha.go.ke/uploads/Digital_Health_Act_15_of_2023_ff0b7c14c3.pdf)
- [Digital Health Agency: certification programme](https://certification.dha.go.ke/)