Kenya implements digital birth registration system

Kenya is transitioning from paper-based birth notifications to a digital e-notification system to streamline the issuance of birth certificates. The initiative aims to eliminate the need for parents to travel long distances to hospitals and Huduma Centres, reducing delays and the risk of losing physical documents.

Developed in collaboration with the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) and various Estonian digital service companies, the system connects hospital data directly to the Civil Registration Services (CRS). This integration allows for the immediate assignment of lifelong unique personal identifiers to newborns. In a recent two-month period, the service recorded more than 270,000 newborns.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced that the pilot phase for these changes will begin in Nandi, Uasin Gishu, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties before a nationwide rollout. The digital process allows hospital staff to enter maternal and infant details into a portal, which then transmits the information to the CRS for rapid processing.