The Government of Kenya has announced plans to waive all application fees for birth and death certificates in a significant move to ensure universal access to legal documentation

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen revealed the directive on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, marking a significant shift in the approach to civil registration.

With this move, the Ministry of Interior aims to replicate the success of the free National Identity Card (ID) registration model, which saw a surge in enrollment after costs were removed.

CS Murkomen noted that the current fees is not suitable for low-income families, leading to a backlog of unregistered citizens and undocumented life events.

“We are moving toward a system where every Kenyan, regardless of their financial status, can secure their legal identity without the burden of cost,” the CS stated during the commissioning of a new administrative office in Sio Port, Samia Sub-county, Busia County.

This policy shift builds on a series of recent reforms aimed at streamlining the identification process.

In September 2025, the government took its first major step by scrapping the KSh500 authentication fee previously required for birth certificates during ID and passport applications.

The ultimate goal is a fully integrated digital system where birth records serve as the foundation for the automatic issuance of National IDs once a citizen reaches the age of 18.

To support this the government is also decentralizing its operations.

Under the Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill, registration offices will be established in all 290 constituencies.

Kenya expects to achieve near-total registration of births and deaths across the country by the end of the fiscal year.