Relief for Kenyans as Govt Scraps Birth Certificate Fees

The government has approved the removal of fees charged for birth certificates, a move aimed at making civil registration services easier and more affordable for millions of Kenyans.

The decision was reached during a Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto, with officials saying the move forms part of wider reforms to improve access to essential identification documents as Kenya continues transitioning to a digital identification system.

The Cabinet said eliminating the charges would help address financial obstacles that have prevented some citizens from obtaining birth certificates, a document that plays a critical role in accessing government services, education opportunities, travel documents and national identification.

Currently, parents are allowed to register the birth of a child without payment if the process is completed within six months.

However, Kenyans seeking late birth registration or replacement certificates have been required to pay processing charges that could reach Ksh 150.

Under the new directive, the government said these charges will be removed, allowing citizens to acquire birth certificates without the extra financial burden.

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Easier Access to Vital Documents for All Kenyans

Birth certificates remain a mandatory requirement when applying for national identity cards, passports, school admission and several other public services.

The government believes scrapping the fees will encourage more families to register births early and ensure citizens have the documents needed throughout their lives.

The reforms are also expected to support the country’s wider digital transformation agenda by reducing unnecessary physical visits to registration centres and cutting down delays associated with accessing civil documents.

The government had also planned to eliminate the Ksh 200 fee charged for birth certificates as part of broader measures designed to make vital registration documents more accessible to Kenyans.

The changes are expected to transform the process of obtaining birth and death certificates by reducing long queues, eliminating dependence on brokers and limiting repeated trips to civil registration offices.

Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang explained on June 25 that the reforms were designed to simplify access to important documents while easing pressure on households affected by the rising cost of living.

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“If we are removing Ksh 300 for IDs and Ksh 1,000 for replacement, then we will also discuss removing the birth certificate fee to make it easy for Kenyans to get the documents they need,” stated Kipsang.

The government has also introduced measures aimed at connecting birth registration with digital systems.

Under the proposed arrangement, newborns delivered in hospitals will receive a Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) immediately, allowing parents to access and print birth certificates through digital platforms.

This system is expected to reduce the need for citizens to travel to civil registration offices to collect documents physically.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced that from June 22, Kenyans would be able to download and print birth certificates online from home, marking a significant shift in how civil registration services are delivered.

“Kenyans can now download and print birth certificates online, a significant step towards improving accessibility and reducing the time required to obtain essential documents,” he said.

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Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang and heads of various directorates during a consultative meeting at Nyayo House on June 22
PHOTO/Murkomen