NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyans may soon have quicker and more convenient access to birth certificates, as Parliament considers the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Proposed by Gilgil MP Martha Wangari, the Bill aims to simplify access to essential identification by establishing a birth and death registration office in each constituency across the country.
The Bill has gained momentum, recently passing the scrutiny of the Committee on Administration and Internal Security, moving it closer to the Second Reading stage.
If enacted, the law would mandate that the relevant Cabinet Secretary appoint at least one registration office in all 290 constituencies, doubling the current 143 offices in the country.
Wangari argues that this amendment would especially benefit Kenyans in rural and underserved areas, who often face logistical challenges in obtaining birth certificates.
“This Bill will save time, resources, and greatly reduce barriers that have hindered citizens’ access to critical documents,” Wangari said during a committee session chaired by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma.
A birth certificate is an essential document for accessing education, healthcare, employment, and other public services.
However, for many Kenyans, obtaining this document has proven difficult, partly due to the limited availability of registration offices.
The proposed amendment to the Births and Death Registration Act (Cap 149) would address this by ensuring each constituency has a designated registration office and qualified officers to oversee its operations.
The Law Society of Kenya has backed the Bill, highlighting Article 6(3) of the Constitution, which mandates reasonable access to government services.
More registration offices, according to Wangari, would also enhance the accuracy of birth and death data, which is vital for government planning and resource allocation.
“This amendment could significantly improve our data collection, helping us make more informed decisions on development and public service distribution,” Wangari added.
Proposed by Gilgil MP Martha Wangari, the Bill aims to simplify access to essential identification by establishing a birth and death registration office in each constituency across the country.
The Bill has gained momentum, recently passing the scrutiny of the Committee on Administration and Internal Security, moving it closer to the Second Reading stage.
If enacted, the law would mandate that the relevant Cabinet Secretary appoint at least one registration office in all 290 constituencies, doubling the current 143 offices in the country.
Wangari argues that this amendment would especially benefit Kenyans in rural and underserved areas, who often face logistical challenges in obtaining birth certificates.
“This Bill will save time, resources, and greatly reduce barriers that have hindered citizens’ access to critical documents,” Wangari said during a committee session chaired by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma.
A birth certificate is an essential document for accessing education, healthcare, employment, and other public services.
However, for many Kenyans, obtaining this document has proven difficult, partly due to the limited availability of registration offices.
The proposed amendment to the Births and Death Registration Act (Cap 149) would address this by ensuring each constituency has a designated registration office and qualified officers to oversee its operations.
The Law Society of Kenya has backed the Bill, highlighting Article 6(3) of the Constitution, which mandates reasonable access to government services.
More registration offices, according to Wangari, would also enhance the accuracy of birth and death data, which is vital for government planning and resource allocation.
“This amendment could significantly improve our data collection, helping us make more informed decisions on development and public service distribution,” Wangari added.
