The Ministry of Interior on Tuesday, January 31, announced that President William Ruto's administration will from March 1, 2023 start issuing digital birth and death certificates.
Immigration and Citizen Services PS Prof Julius Bitok explained that the launch of online services will coincide with the introduction of a Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) that will act as lifetime identification for newborns.
The Ministry explained that all Kenyan citizens will be identified and their details automated in order to avoid delays that come with manual processes.
"A Birth Certificate provides proof that one is a Kenyan and similarly is required by pupils and students applying to sit for their National Examinations," the Ministry of Interior explained.
Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) is a single identification number that is unique to each person and is used to organise personal information including medical, security and social strata.
Presently, application for a birth certificate is done at Huduma Centres countrywide or Civil Registration Department offices, but the Kenya Kwanza government is moving a to fully digital service.
Parents are required to produce a birth notification and identification numbers for both parents, or a death certificate if the parents are deceased.
The people who qualify for this service include parents, guardians of a newly born baby, rescue centres or children’s homes which are taking charge of the children.
According to the government, a birth certificate with no amendment will cost Ksh60, those with amendments to child's name will cost Ksh100 while a birth certificate with amendments on the parent's name will cost Ksh100.
Death certificates will also be retrieved on the digital platform after the submission of a few requirements to the government.
Previously, a family or friend would be required to visit the local district registrar’s office where the death occurred to make the application.
The applicant would be expected to fill the forms and attach a burial permit to facilitate the search of records at the District Civil Registrars’ Office.
At the same time, the applicant is expected to pay a death certificate fee of Ksh50 and any record amendment fee as advised by the office in case amendments are required on the original record of death.
The cost of amendments on a death certificate costs around Ksh90, after which the certificate will be handed to the family of the deceased.
