Residents of Kiambu County have been advised to register births and deaths as soon as they happen in order to acquire the necessary documents in time.
The Kiambu County Civil Registrar, Stephen Mathenge, noted that it has been a tendency for people to make a last minute rush for the registration documents whenever they are urgently required to accomplish certain tasks.
Mathenge stressed that registration of births and deaths was mandatory in Kenya and that anyone flouting the requirement risked prosecution.
“Any person who fails to give notice of birth or death is guilty of an offense, and is liable for prosecution,” he adds.
Speaking to KNA in his office, the County Civil Registrar regretted that many of the residents thronged registration office every start of the year to seek birth certificates for their children either enrolling to school or registering for the National Examinations.
Mathenge lamented that the sudden high demand for services in the office overwhelms the capacity of the available staff hence the slow and protracted processing of the crucial documents.
He commended the efforts of the staff, saying despite the huge task, they were committed in ensuring the public are served satisfactorily.
He said it normally takes less than one month to acquire certificates when one has satisfactorily completed filling and presenting the required forms.
“The documents are critical in the data analysis for government planning for development. The government needs to know its population to enable it provide adequate services that include health, food, education and security among other crucial basic provisions,” he added.
By Lang’at Edwins
