NAIROBI, Kenya — Couples planning to tie the knot in Kenya will now access marriage certificates and special marriage licences exclusively online, following a major shift by the Office of the Attorney General to digitise the process.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Office of the Attorney General announced that all registrar’s certificates and special marriage licences will be generated and issued solely through the government’s eCitizen platform, effectively ending the manual printing and physical issuance of the documents.
The new system, which took effect on January 13, 2026, applies to civil, Christian and Hindu marriages, according to the Office of the Registrar of Marriages in Nairobi.
“With effect from January 13, 2026, all registrar’s certificates and special licences shall be digitally generated and downloaded exclusively through the eCitizen portal,” the statement said.
Under the revised process, members of the public and authorised marriage officers will be required to submit applications and download certificates through www.ecitizen.go.ke, as part of broader reforms aimed at improving efficiency and access to government services.
The Attorney General’s office said the digital certificates will carry enhanced security features to curb fraud and ease verification.
These include a marriage application reference number and a unique QR code that can be scanned to confirm the authenticity of the documents.
Officials noted that the shift is expected to streamline marriage registration while promoting transparency and safeguarding the integrity of official records.
Marriage officers and couples have been urged to familiarise themselves with the eCitizen system to avoid disruptions, with authorities stressing that no physical certificates or licences will be issued going forward.
The Office of the Registrar of Marriages emphasised that certificates and licences generated through the portal are valid and legally recognised, and carry the same legal weight as previously issued physical documents.
Members of the public seeking further clarification have been advised to contact the Registrar of Marriages at Sheria House, Nairobi, through the official telephone numbers and email addresses provided by the Attorney General’s office.
The move forms part of the government’s wider push to digitise public services, reduce bureaucracy and enhance service delivery across state departments.
