NAIROBI, Kenya, June 22 – Kenyans will soon be able to download and print birth certificates online as the government moves to digitise civil registration services and reduce delays in accessing the key document.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the move follows concerns raised by citizens during the Jukwaa la Usalama public engagement forums.
“In response to issues raised during the Jukwaa la Usalama engagements, Kenyans can now download and print birth certificates online, a significant step towards improving accessibility and reducing the time required to obtain essential documents,” Murkomen said after a meeting with officials from the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang and heads of directorates at Nyayo House in Nairobi.
Currently, most birth certificates are processed and issued physically through Huduma Centres and Civil Registration offices, a system that has often been criticised for delays, bureaucracy and the costs incurred by applicants travelling to service centres.
The digitisation of the service is expected to cut waiting times and make it easier for Kenyans to access birth certificates, which are required for school admissions, national identification cards, passports and other government services.
Murkomen also announced plans to further decentralise passport services to improve access and reduce congestion at existing centres.
“Among the key milestones is the continued decentralisation of passport issuance services, with plans underway to expand physical passport application and collection centres to Kilifi County, in addition to the counties already served,” he said.
The reforms form part of the government’s broader effort to digitise public services and improve service delivery through technology.
