Head teachers asked to help in birth certificates issuance

By JOSEPH MUCHIRI

Head teachers have been called to be involved in the issuance of birth certificates to reduce congestion at issuing centres during the ongoing registration for national exams.

Eastern Province Coordinator for Civil Registration Patrick Lukare Ingutia attributed the delays in applying for birth certificates to parents who wait till the last minute resulting in congestion.

He added that in 2011, they had sent officers to chiefs’ camps and involved head teachers to facilitate early application of the certificate but very few parents turned up.

"We have tried all means at our disposal. What remains for us now is door to door visits which might be untenable due to the huge costs involved," said Ingutia.

Ingutia said the problem of delays is more acute at the primary school level than in secondary schools because over the years those sitting for Kenya Certificate of Secondary School exams will already have birth certificates when joining secondary schools.

The coordinator appealed to primary school heads to consider targeting all upper primary school pupils to apply for their birth certificates early to avoid unnecessary delays and jams at the last minute when Kenya National Examinations Council gives a deadline for registration.

"We are willing to partner with schools and parents so that we can reduce the stress and long queues witnessed at the moment," said Ingutia

He revealed there might be a problem in registration of births for children born between February and March because of the health workers strike that has not spared officers working in the health records department.