Birth papers to be issued in schools

Registration of births is to be conducted in schools and colleges to ease the burden on parents, the Immigration and Registration of Persons minister has announced.

Mr Otieno Kajwang’ said the government would post a civil registration officer and four clerks at all the new districts to ensure that the services were closer to the public.

“The government officers will start moving to schools, where parents will go with the required documents to facilitate registration,” Mr Kajwang’ said in Busia District at the weekend when he accompanied Prime Minister Raila Odinga on his two-day tour of Western Province.

The minister’s remarks followed complaints by the public that it was expensive and difficult to acquire birth certificates as they had to travel long distances to registration centres.

Last month, the government extended the deadline for submission of birth certificates by students and pupils who are set to register for national examinations this year from March 31 to June 30 to give them more time to acquire the documents.

Butula MP Alfred Odhiambo said border residents were suffering because registration officers were sending them back to their rural areas to get documents from local administrators.

Fisheries Development minister Paul Otuoma appealed for the relaxation of rules governing the issuance of birth certificates and identify cards.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga asked Kenyans to register in large numbers as voters so that they can participate in the referendum that is to decide on a new constitution.