Kenya’s Digital Birth Registration Reaches 90% of Newborns Nationwide

Kenya’s digital birth registration system, integrated with maternity hospitals and Huduma Centres, now covers 90% of newborns—up from 65% in 2021. The platform, managed by the Office of the Registrar General, issues instant digital birth certificates via SMS. Over 1.2 million births were registered in 2023, enabling access to NHIF, child grants, and education. The system reduced processing time from weeks to minutes and cut forgery. UNICEF praised Kenya as a model for civil registration in Africa. The next phase includes linking to national ID at age 6 and integrating with social protection programs for vulnerable children.