The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops has raised concern over what it describes as a shortage of marriage certificates, warning that delays in registration processes are undermining the institution of marriage.
In a statement, the bishops said they are facing increasing difficulties in the civil registration and legalisation of marriages, following the government’s shift to a fully digital system under the eCitizen platform.
At the start of the year, the Office of the Attorney-General announced the discontinuation of manual printing and issuance of Registrar’s Certificates and Special Licences, transitioning all services for civil, Christian, and Hindu marriages to digital processing and download.
However, the clergy says the new system has introduced delays and logistical challenges.
“The clearance process is slow and at times insensitive to the time and dates set. Moreover, we are now experiencing a shortage of marriage certificates,” the bishops said.
According to the Church, the bottlenecks have made it difficult for couples to complete the legal requirements for marriage, with some ceremonies reportedly affected by delays in obtaining official documentation.
The chairman of the bishops’ conference, Maurice Muhatia Makumba, warned that the situation could have wider social implications, including a decline in formal marriages and reduced legal protection for vulnerable spouses.
“These conditions have discouraged many from contracting marriage, as the statistics show. This is bound to cause a moral dent to the society, and risks depriving the weaker spouses of their legal rights,” Muhatia said.
He emphasised that marriage is a constitutionally protected institution, citing Article 45 of the Constitution, which recognises the family as the natural and fundamental unit of society.
“We as a country must protect and promote the institution of marriage… When our families and the institution of marriage are strong, our society thrives,” he added.
