Ruto signs law to decentralise birth, death registration

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President William Ruto on Thursday assented to the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024, paving the way for at least one births and deaths registration office in every sub‑county across Kenya.

The law, sponsored by Gilgil MP Martha Wangari, will take registration services outside major cities so citizens can access essential documents closer to home.

The Bill was first tabled in the National Assembly on September 18, 2024, and passed with amendments on November 19, 2025.

It updates the Births and Deaths Registration Act, Cap. 149, requiring the Cabinet Secretary responsible for civil registration to operationalise offices at the sub‑county level.

By expanding registration services, the law reinforces Article 6(3) of the Constitution, which obligates national government organs to provide reasonable access to services across all parts of the country.

Once rolled out, the additional offices are expected to simplify obtaining birth and death certificates and improve the government’s capacity to maintain accurate population records — which are critical for planning, budgeting and policy formulation.

The law will improve national data management, ease access to identity documents, and enhance planning for social and economic programmes that depend on accurate population information.

The President also signed the Pyrethrum Repeal Bill, 2024, which streamlines regulation of the pyrethrum sector.

It eliminates overlaps in oversight frameworks and removing outdated provisions that hinder productivity in one of Kenya’s key agricultural industries.

He also signed the Social Work Professionals Bill, 2023, which establishes the Institute of Social Work Professionals and the Social Work Professionals Board.

It will regulate the social work profession, strengthen ethical standards, oversee training and registration of practitioners across the country.