Committee Approves Bill to Establish Birth and Death Registration Offices in Every Constituency
The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security has endorsed the **Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024**, which aims to establish at least one birth and death registration office in every constituency across Kenya. The bill, proposed by **Hon. Martha Wangari** (Gilgil), was approved by the committee for progression to the Second Reading stage.
The principal objective of the bill is to amend the **Births and Deaths Registration Act (Cap 149)**, ensuring that the **Cabinet Secretary for the Interior** establishes a registration office in each of Kenya’s 290 constituencies. The proposed amendment also seeks to empower the CS to appoint a registration area in each constituency to streamline the process of recording births and deaths across the country.
Currently, Kenya has only **143 birth and death registration centers**, a number far below the required distribution for adequate access to vital services. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has raised concerns about this discrepancy, citing **Article 6(3)** of the **Constitution**, which mandates that national and state organs must ensure reasonable access to services in all parts of the Republic.
The amendment to Section 5 of the Births and Death Registration Act will also provide for the appointment of registrars and deputy registrars for each designated area. Furthermore, the bill proposes that the CS appoint a registrar for births and deaths occurring outside Kenya, enhancing the inclusivity of the registration system.
During the committee session, **Hon. Wangari** reassured members that the bill’s provisions were in line with the country’s legal and constitutional framework. The committee, chaired by **Hon. Peter Kaluma** (Homa Bay Town), gave its full support to the bill, which it believes will significantly improve access to birth and death registration services for Kenyans, especially in remote and underserved areas.
The bill’s passage would mark a major step toward ensuring that every citizen, regardless of location, has access to the registration of life events, a fundamental right that has far-reaching implications for citizenship, social services, and national development.
As the bill moves to the Second Reading stage, it is expected to garner further attention as stakeholders debate its potential impact on Kenya’s governance and public service delivery.
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