Government rolls out e-birth notification system to ease registration delays

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced the rollout of an electronic birth notification system aimed at reducing bureaucratic delays and making birth registration services more accessible to Kenyans.

Murkomen made the announcement on Monday, October 12, 2026, while accompanying President William Ruto during a development tour of the North Rift region, where the Head of State commissioned projects targeting trade, housing and electricity connectivity in Nandi County. "We are rolling out the e-Birth Notification System to eliminate bureaucracy and delays, and make birth registration more accessible to Kenyans," Murkomen said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter)

The initiative forms part of the government's wider digitalisation agenda to streamline public services, reduce paperwork and improve access to essential government documents. Birth notification is the first step in the civil registration process, providing information required to register a child's birth and facilitate the acquisition of official documentation. The new system is intended to simplify this process, although the government has yet to outline its implementation timeline and the procedures Kenyans will follow to access the service.

Murkomen also highlighted reforms aimed at reducing the cost of obtaining and updating national identity cards, including the abolition of charges for first-time ID applications, replacement of lost IDs and changes to personal particulars.

The measures are intended to ease the financial burden on citizens seeking essential identification documents.

National identity cards are important for accessing formal financial services, government programmes and other public services, while birth registration provides official recognition of a child's birth and supports access to subsequent documentation. The effectiveness of the e-Birth Notification System will depend on its implementation and accessibility, particularly for families in remote areas with limited internet connectivity or access to digital devices.