NAIROBI, Kenya — The State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services has requested Sh1.8 billion to expand civil registration services nationwide and accelerate digitisation reforms aimed at improving access to birth and death certificates.
Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang appeared before the National Assembly Administration and Internal Security Committee on Monday and outlined a sweeping reform plan.
The proposals include establishing civil registration desks in all National Registration Bureau (NRB) offices across the country.
Kipsang said the funding will cover the purchase of 1,691,541 birth certificates and 219,483 death certificates, alongside essential production supplies.
Kenya has 970 NRB offices. He argued that expanding the number of civil registration points will reduce backlogs and bring services closer to citizens.
“These upgrades will improve access to vital documents and strengthen service delivery,” he told lawmakers.
Birth and death registration is anchored in the Births and Deaths Registration Act. Parliament recently passed the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024, sponsored by Gilgil MP Martha Wangari.
The amendments aim to streamline registration processes and align them with digital governance reforms.
Committee Chair Gabriel Tongoyo, the MP for Narok West, said the Department will play a central role in implementing the amended law.
He stressed that efficient registration systems are critical for planning, public service access, and legal identity rights protected under Article 12 of the Constitution.
Beyond certificate production, Kipsang told the committee that additional funds are needed to digitise manual records, manage the e-Citizen platform, and roll out the Unique Personal Identifier (UPI).
The UPI is expected to integrate citizen data across government systems and reduce duplication.
The reforms come amid ongoing public scrutiny of digital identity systems. Civil society groups have previously raised concerns about data protection and exclusion risks in digital rollouts.
Lawmakers said implementation must comply with the Data Protection Act to safeguard personal information.
The committee also heard submissions from other state agencies. The National Police Service Commission, led by CEO Peter Leley, sought restoration of its mandate and operational roles to improve oversight and service delivery within the police service.
Meanwhile, the State Department for National Government Coordination, headed by Principal Secretary Ahmed Abdisalan, requested a revised budget of Sh2.5 billion for the 2026/27 financial year. The funds would strengthen oversight and coordination of national government functions.
At the Executive Office of the President, the Office of the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, represented by Arthur Osiya, unveiled plans to modernise the Government Press.
“The modernisation will enable the Government Printer to acquire security print production equipment necessary for printing sensitive documents such as revenue stamps, ballot papers, and secure identification documents,” Osiya said.
He added that over 70 P.c of the current machines are more than 30 years old, causing frequent breakdowns and delays.
The coordinated budget requests reflect a broader government push to digitise public services, modernise document production, and strengthen administrative efficiency.
Lawmakers said they will scrutinise the proposals to ensure value for money and compliance with constitutional standards on public finance management.
