By Obegi Malack
The National government has plans to introduce a digital programme where birth and death certificates will be issued online.
The programme is set to begin in March this year.
Speaking in Ngong in Kajiado North constituency during the opening of Civil Registration Services recently, Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok said the new system will ease the time it takes for one to get the certificates.
The PS said the programme dubbed Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) will serve as the identity card for newborns.
“The UPI number, which will be accessed through e-citizen services, will be given when one is born and the children will use the number as an ID,” Bitok stated.
He noted that Kajiado residents have had challenges in registering since it’s expensive for one to access the registration centres.
The introduction of the UPI will see the government raise the percentages of both registered births and deaths in the country that currently stand at 86 per cent and 55 per cent respectively.
The UPI number works in a similar manner as the Huduma Number though it’s not a substitute of the former.
Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo said his constituents used to spend more than Ksh 2,000 to access the documents in Kajiado that go for Ksh 50, adding further that the new office will cut costs and time.
He urged the locals to take advantage of the office to register new births and deaths.
Most residents experience difficulties when enrolling their children in schools, during national examinations or when they want to transfer properties without the crucial documents.
In Kajiado County, statistics for birth and death registration currently stand at 85 per cent and 31 per cent respectively.
Present during the event was Environment PS Ephantus Kimotho who said the government will fence Oloolua forest and plant more trees in the region.