Kenyans hoping to complete the entire birth certificate application process from the comfort of their homes will still have to make a trip to their local birth registry office.
Huduma Kenya has clarified that although birth certificate applications have been moved online, applicants must still physically visit their birth district registry office for part of the processing.
The clarification follows growing confusion among Kenyans after the government recently announced that birth certificate applications and issuance had been digitised through the eCitizen platform.
Responding to questions from members of the public, Huduma Kenya explained that the online platform only covers part of the application process.
“Hello, you will have to visit your birth district registry office for processing of the application,” the agency stated.
It now means applicants are able to start the application process online by filling in their details and uploading relevant documents using the eCitizen portal but are unable to complete the whole process from the comfort of their homes. They must physically visit the registry at which the birth was initially registered.
The move is likely to end confusion that had been created following the launching of the online platform by the Government as many Kenyans thought that the process had gone online.
Prospective applicants are now being advised to acquaint themselves with all the conditions before submitting their applications to save themselves from any inconvenience or the trouble of visiting the wrong Government offices.
This latest development comes at a time when the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government introduced changes meant to digitize the birth registration process. According to the new policy, those applicants whose applications are successfully approved can download their certificates online.
The Government says the new system will help to ease bureaucracy, get rid of middlemen who have for years exploited applicants, and minimize congestion in the country’s civil registration offices.
How to Apply for a Birth Certificate Online
Applicants seeking a birth certificate through the eCitizen platform are required to:
Log into their eCitizen account.
Select the Civil Registration Department service.
Fill in the online application form with the required details.
Upload the necessary supporting documents.
Submit the application and pay the applicable processing fee.
Once approved, download the birth certificate from the platform and print it if needed.
Despite the digital shift, Huduma Kenya’s clarification confirms that the physical visit to the birth district registry office remains an essential step in processing applications. For now, the government’s push towards fully digitised civil registration services is still a work in progress.
