The Office of the Attorney General has announced a major shift in the issuance of key marriage registration documents, marking a full transition from manual processing to a fully digital system.
The move, effective from January 13, 2026, places Registrar’s Certificates and Special Licenses for Civil, Christian, and Hindu marriages under an exclusive online framework managed through the e‑Citizen portal.
Kenya Digitalizes Marriage Certificates
The Office of the Registrar of Marriages in Nairobi confirmed that it has stopped printing and issuing the documents manually.
“The Office of the Attorney General is pleased to inform Marriage Officers and members of the public of enhanced marriage registration services, effective immediately. The Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nairobi, has discontinued the manual printing and issuance of Registrar’s Certificates and Special Licenses for Civil, Christian, and Hindu marriages,” read part of a statement from the Attorney General’s office.
Consequently, with effect from 13th January, 2026, all Registrar’s Certificates and Special Licenses shall be digitally generated and downloaded exclusively through the e-Citizen portal via www.ecitizen.go.ke,” the statement read.
The decision aligns with the government’s broader efforts to modernize service delivery and strengthen the integrity of official records.
Through the new system, applicants must log into the e‑Citizen platform to obtain Registrar’s Certificates and Special Licenses.
The digital documents come with updated security features intended to prevent fraud and streamline verification.
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According to the statement, each certificate will contain a marriage application reference number and a scannable QR code.
“Registrar’s Certificates and Special Licenses issued through the e-Citizen portal will incorporate enhanced security features, including a marriage application reference number and a unique Quick Response (QR) code, which can be scanned to verify authenticity.”
Members of the public and all Marriage Officers are advised to take note of this transition and utilize the e-Citizen platform for all relevant applications and downloads.”
These two components allow instant authentication, enabling quick confirmation of legitimacy by authorities and institutions that rely on the documents.
The digital system also offers a faster method for retrieving lost or misplaced certificates, as users can re-download the documents without requiring in‑person assistance.
AG Dorcas Oduor Issues Directives
The Attorney General’s office has stressed the importance of the transition, calling it a necessary improvement to ensure efficiency and accountability.
Marriage Officers across the country have been instructed to adopt the new system without exception.
The notice clarifies that any certificates or licenses must now be downloaded directly from the portal, and no manual alternatives will be provided.
The move is also seen as a way to create a centralized digital trail of marriage documentation, improving record‑keeping and reducing risks associated with misplaced or altered documents.
Prior to the change, applicants often relied on in‑person visits to Sheria House to obtain physical copies, a process that sometimes faced delays due to queues and manual processing.
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The shift to digital issuance is expected to reduce these challenges by offering round‑the‑clock access and eliminating the need for physical presence.
The Office of the Registrar of Marriages urged the public to direct any questions to its offices at Sheria House.
Rising Marriage Registration Costs
Kenya’s shift to digital marriage documentation comes amid broader reforms affecting marriage registration nationwide.
In September 2024, the government proposed a steep increase in marriage processing fees, raising costs from Ksh5,000 to as high as Ksh50,000 as part of a revenue‑boosting strategy.
Attorney General Dorcas Oduor also directed that all existing marriage certificates be submitted within 30 days, with registrars required to scan and upload them within 14 days.
The policy drew criticism from religious leaders and officiants, who warned that the higher fees and tight timelines would burden couples and strain administrative capacity.
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