The National Assembly passed the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024, on Monday, December 1, 2025, which If signed into law, it promises to expand access to essential civil registration services across Kenya.
The Bill, sponsored by Gilgil MP Hon. Martha Wangari, seeks to establish at least one civil registration office in every constituency.
Kenya currently has 143 operational birth and death registration offices across the country, primarily located in sub-counties and regional headquarters.
This number has increased from 143 offices previously reported in late 2024 and early 2025.
Through this Bill, the government is developing a plan to establish an office in each of Kenya's 290 constituencies, making services more accessible.
If signed into law, the amendment will significantly expand access to these vital services, particularly for individuals residing in remote and underserved areas.
Appearing before the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Wangari regretted that Kenyans in certain parts of the country incur significant expenses to obtain the crucial documents.
"If the Bill is passed as it is, we will have an additional 132 birth and death registration offices across the country which will mean services will be taken closer to the people," she said.
Hon. Wangari emphasized that the move is about fairness and accessibility.
"The key amendment seeks to establish a more equitable distribution of these services by causing the setup of at least one registration office in every constituency," stated Hon. Wangari.
According to MP. Wangari, the impact of this change will be felt in everyday life as birth and death certificates are not just pieces of paper, they are essential legal documents that hold significant value and legal significance.
Wangari further stated that the new offices will not have significant financial implications for taxpayers, as each office will consist of only a registrar, a deputy registrar, and a clerk.
She estimated that the government would incur an expenditure of Sh219 million in the first year of establishing the offices.
