The Government will not extend the deadline for applying for old birth certificates beyond the March 31st 2020 deadline, Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS), Dr. Fred Matiang’i has said.
Speaking on Wednesday after visiting the Department of Civil Registration offices in Machakos, the CS urged those who have not acquired the document to take advantage of the window period to obtain it.
Dr. Matiang’i who was accompanied by the Machakos County Commissioner (CC), Esther Maina, alongside area security team members said the move to retain the deadline is to help migrate the processing of government records from the traditional manual system into the digital format.
“We want to clean our old system and move to the modern digital format starting from April 1 next year. Consequently let those who have not acquired their birth certificates do so by March 31st as we shall not allow any late registration beyond that time,” he maintained.
He also called on the local staff to work closely with the office of the CC to help expedite the issuance of the processed certificates to the public through public barazas and other forums before the end of the year.
The requested the CS to allocate additional staff to the area in order to help deal with the large number of applicants visiting the office on a daily basis.
Masinde noted that with the rising number of people applying for both birth and death certificates, it was prudent to address staffing needs in the County which currently has nine employees.
Dr. Matiang’i promised to look into the matter but advised the office to liaise with County Security team under the Chair of the CC to look for ways of solving the challenge by seeking the services of casual workers and the National Youth Service officers.
He said once this is done, an office will be identified within the County where the Department can relocate such staff and thereby ease pressure at the Machakos main office.
He, however, cautioned the officers against involving unqualified personnel and brokers in the program, saying such incidences have in the past tarnished the Department’s image in the eyes of the public.
“We want to restore the dignity of this Department which has greatly been tainted by crooks masquerading as members of staff and end up taking bribes from the public on pretext they are in a position to help them get assistance in acquiring government documents. Let us do our work and work hard in executing our mandate in serving the public since this is what we are employed to do,” he stressed.
By Samuel Maina
