President William Ruto has assented to the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024, paving the way for the establishment of at least one births and deaths registration office in every sub-county across Kenya.
The new law, sponsored by Martha Wangari, Gilgil Constituency, seeks to decentralize the registration of births and deaths, ensuring that citizens can access these essential services closer to their homes.
The Bill, which was first read in the National Assembly of Kenya on September 18, 2024, sailed through the House with amendments on November 19, 2025. It amends the Births and Deaths Registration Act, Cap. 149, compelling the Cabinet Secretary responsible for civil registration to operationalize offices at the sub-county level.
By mandating the expansion of registration offices, the legislation reinforces Article 6(3) of the Constitution, which obligates national government organs to ensure reasonable access to services across all parts of the country.
Once operational, the expanded network of registration offices is expected to simplify the process of obtaining birth and death certificates while strengthening the government’s capacity to maintain accurate population records. These records are critical for national planning, resource allocation, and evidence-based policy formulation.
The passage of the legislation marks a significant step toward universal access to vital registration services, particularly for citizens in rural and previously underserved areas.
Currently, many Kenyans especially those in remote regions face delays in acquiring birth and death certificates due to limited access to registration offices. The new law addresses these barriers by formally anchoring service decentralization in legislation.
Under the new framework, the Executive is expected to utilize existing administrative structures at the sub-county level to implement the law efficiently and cost-effectively. The government already maintains administrative offices in each sub-county, which are anticipated to host the registration units.
Once implemented, the law is projected to improve national data management, ease access to identity documents, and enhance planning for social and economic programs that depend on accurate population records.
