The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security has endorsed a bill proposing changes in the application of birth certificate and death certificates.
Sponsored by Gilgil MP Martha Wangari, the bill proposes the establishment of new birth and death registration offices.
The Bill seeks to amend the Births and Death Registration Act (Cap 149) to ensure the Ministry of Interior establishes at least one registration office for birth and death certificates in each constituency.
Led by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, the committee members supported the move, which will lead to the amendment of section 5 of the Births and Death Registration Act.
Therefore, the Bill has been approved to progress to the Second Reading stage.
Also Read: Govt Announces Loss of Birth Certificates, Issues Directive
Additional Proposals in the Bill
If passed into law, the Bill will ensure there are at least 290 Births and Deaths Registration offices across the country.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary will be responsible for appointing fit and proper persons to be the registrars and deputy registrars for each registration area.
Also, he will be tasked to appoint a fit individual to be the registrar of births and deaths occurring outside the country.
According to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), there are only 143 birth and death registration centres in Kenya.
LSK noted that Article 6(3) of the Constitution requires national and state organs to ensure reasonable access to its services in all parts of the Republic.
Also Read: Govt Revokes Death Certificates After Losing Crucial Documents
Recent Birth Certificate and Death Certificate Scandals
If enacted, the amendment will help streamline the process of getting a birth or death certificates and enhance record-keeping in Kenya.
On October 15, the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services announced the loss of birth certificates at the Mutomo Registration Office causing uproar among Kenyans.
In November 2024, the Interior Ministry revoked death certificates and birth notifications following the loss of registration materials at select county offices.
According to the State Department, the key documents used for birth notification registrations went missing at the Nyandarua Central offices.
Further, the state department in the public notice announced that the office has lost 50 booklets of Birth Notifications with serial numbers 9602501-9603750 and 9718751-9720000.
“Civil Registration Services wishes to inform the general public of the loss of B1(Birth Notification Registration Booklets) which occurred in Nyandarua Central offices,” the statement read in part.
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