Stakeholders from government agencies and development partners have gathered for a three-day validation workshop to review the Births and Deaths Registration Bill 2025, a crucial proposal aimed at modernising Kenya’s civil registration system and improving access to legal identity for all citizens.
The workshop is spearheaded by the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services through the Civil Registration Service (CRS), as part of ongoing reforms within the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
Government Support and Institutional Reforms
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen expressed strong support for the review process, noting that the proposed reforms align with broader institutional improvements initiated through feedback from the Jukwaa la Usalama forums held nationwide.
CS Murkomen emphasised that the reforms aim to strengthen service delivery, enhance transparency, and ensure accessibility within the ministry’s departments. The workshop also reflects the government’s wider agenda to modernise public institutions and digitise key services to improve planning, governance, and access to citizen services.
Modernising Civil Registration
Civil Registration Service Secretary Paul Mwangemi highlighted that the current Births and Deaths Registration Act (Cap 149) is outdated, relying largely on paper-based processes that present challenges in record management and accessibility.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a modern legal framework supporting digital registration and technological solutions for the creation, storage, and management of civil records. Key objectives include:
- Enhancing data protection and access to information
- Recognising intersex persons and surrogacy arrangements
- Facilitating adoption-related re-registration of births
- Managing presumed deaths
The Bill also aligns with new national policy initiatives, such as the establishment of a national population database and the allocation of a Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) at birth, promoting inclusive legal identity from birth.
Stakeholder Engagement and Technical Support
Participants at the validation workshop are tasked with reviewing the draft legislation, validating contributions from the State Department, and providing recommendations ahead of public participation.
Technical and financial support has been provided by partners including Vital Strategies and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), reinforcing the government’s efforts to strengthen civil registration and vital statistics systems.
Expected Outcomes
Once enacted, the Births and Deaths Registration Bill 2025 is expected to deliver a modern, inclusive, and technology-driven civil registration system. The reforms will ensure that every Kenyan is accounted for from birth while strengthening national data frameworks and service delivery across the country.
The initiative marks a significant step in Kenya’s commitment to digital governance, legal identity inclusion, and efficient population data management.
