Strengthening Civil Registration in Kenya

Strengthening Civil Registration in Kenya: The Role of Advocacy, Legal Reform, and Media in Driving Change

Kenya is embarking on a crucial journey to address a long-standing issue: the low rates of birth and death registration in the country. Despite the existence of legal frameworks mandating civil registration, many Kenyans, particularly those in marginalized and rural areas, remain unregistered. This situation has far-reaching implications, from denying citizens access to essential services to impeding the country’s ability to plan effectively for public health, education, and governance.

In response to this challenge, the Kenya Community Media Network (KCOMNET) has partnered with the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) on a one-year project aimed at advocating for improved civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems. The project will operate across ten counties in collaboration with 14 community radio stations, legislators, and civil society organizations (CSOs). This in-country campaign will drive media outreach, policy advocacy, and public awareness to reform CRVS laws and enhance accessibility to registration services, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Civil Registration in Kenya: The Current State

Kenya’s CRVS system is critical for legal identity, access to services, and national planning. Yet, the system faces numerous challenges, leading to low birth and death registration rates. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the rate of birth registration is approximately 67%, and death registration is at 42%. These statistics were highlighted in the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census and subsequent Vital Statistics Report published by KNBS in 2021. The data points to significant disparities in registration rates across different regions of the country, with rural and marginalized areas lagging behind. The Births and Deaths Registration Act governs civil registration in Kenya, requiring that births be registered within six months and deaths within one month. However, enforcement of these laws has been weak, and the infrastructure to support nationwide registration is lacking. Political inertia, bureaucratic delays, and limited public awareness further exacerbate the problem, leaving many Kenyans excluded from the civil registration system.

Challenges Leading to Low Registration Rates

Several key challenges contribute to the low rates of birth and death registration in Kenya:

1. Geographical Barriers: Many Kenyans, especially in rural areas, must travel long distances to reach registration centers. In some counties, there are no centers at all, making it nearly impossible for people in remote regions to register births or deaths.
2. Lack of Awareness: Many Kenyans, particularly in rural areas, are unaware of the importance of registering births and deaths. Cultural practices often delay registration, and some communities do not prioritize it because they do not see immediate benefits.
3. Bureaucratic Inefficiencies: The registration process is often slow, outdated, and cumbersome. Long waiting times, insufficient staff, and paperwork delays discourage people from completing the registration process.
4. Cultural and Traditional Factors: Some communities adhere to cultural practices, such as naming ceremonies, which delay the registration of births. These delays often result in missed deadlines and unregistered births.
5. Political and Legal Gaps: The CRVS system has suffered from a lack of political prioritization and weak enforcement of existing laws. Legal reforms that could streamline the process have often stalled, leaving the system inefficient and underfunded.

Importance of a Centralized and Accessible CRVS System

A well-functioning, centralized CRVS system is essential for the smooth functioning of Kenya’s public services and governance. The importance of a robust system includes:

1. Legal Identity: Birth registration provides individuals with a legal identity, allowing them to access essential services such as healthcare, education, and social protection. It also ensures that individuals can claim their rights as citizens.
2. Public Health and Planning: Accurate birth and death registration data help the government and public health institutions plan and allocate resources effectively. This data is critical for tracking demographic trends, planning for education and healthcare services, and responding to public health crises.
3. National Security and Accountability: A comprehensive CRVS system enhances national security by maintaining accurate population records. It also promotes government accountability in service delivery, ensuring that resources reach the intended beneficiaries.
4. International Commitments: Civil registration is key to meeting international commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include targets related to universal birth registration and improved public health outcomes.

Importance of County-Level Registration Centers

To improve access to civil registration, it is crucial that each of Kenya’s counties has at least one well-equipped registration center. These centers should have modern digital infrastructure and adequate staff to serve the population effectively. Decentralizing registration services would bring numerous benefits:

• Accessibility: County-based centers reduce the distance that residents need to travel to register births and deaths. This is especially important for rural and marginalized communities.
• Efficiency: Decentralized centers can process registrations more quickly, reducing the time it takes for citizens to receive official documents.
• Community Engagement: Local registration centers can engage directly with communities, providing targeted awareness campaigns and addressing local concerns about registration.

The Role of Media in Advocacy and Public Awareness

Community media, particularly radio stations, will play a central role in KCOMNET’s advocacy campaign. Community radio stations have a unique ability to reach marginalized populations, broadcast in local languages, and engage directly with communities. By leveraging these stations, KCOMNET aims to raise awareness about the importance of civil registration and encourage individuals to demand access to these services.

KCOMNET’s media campaign will include:

• Radio Campaigns: Targeted radio programs that educate the public about the importance of birth and death registration, the rights associated with legal identity, and how to access registration services.
• Community Dialogues: Engagement with local communities through radio programs and town hall meetings to foster discussions on civil registration and its importance.
• Digital Platforms: Social media and other digital platforms will be used to amplify the campaign’s reach, with the goal of reaching 1 million people and achieving 20,000 social media engagements over the course of the project.

Legal Reform and the CRVS Bill

Legal reforms are central to the success of this campaign. The proposed amendments to Kenya’s CRVS Bill seek to modernize the system, improve accessibility, and enhance accountability. Key proposals include:

1. Digitalization of the CRVS System: The proposed amendments would introduce a fully digitalized system, allowing for real-time data collection and processing. This would reduce delays and improve the accuracy of registration data.
2. County-Level Registration Centers: The amendments call for the establishment of fully equipped registration centers in every county, with mobile units for remote areas. This would significantly improve access to registration services for marginalized populations.
3. Stronger Enforcement: The proposed reforms would introduce stricter penalties for failing to register births and deaths within the legal timeframes. This would ensure greater compliance with the law.
4. Public Awareness Campaigns: The bill includes provisions for nationwide public awareness campaigns to educate the public on the importance of civil registration. These campaigns would be carried out in partnership with CSOs and local media.
5. Integration with Health Systems: Health facilities would be required to register all births and deaths occurring on their premises, ensuring that no one is left out of the registration system.

A Path to Reform

The partnership between KCOMNET and GHAI offers a unique opportunity to drive significant improvements in Kenya’s civil registration system. By addressing the root causes of low registration rates geographical barriers, lack of awareness, and bureaucratic inefficiencies, the project aims to empower citizens to demand their rights and hold the government accountable for providing accessible and efficient registration services.

The proposed legal reforms, combined with sustained advocacy and media outreach, have the potential to transform Kenya’s CRVS system, ensuring that all Kenyans, especially those in marginalized communities, are legally recognized and can access the services they deserve. By working together, civil society, media, and government can build a more inclusive and accountable future for Kenya, where every citizen is counted, and every life is recognized.

By Moses Provabs