Why Kenya is facing a shortage of marriage certificates

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) addressing the media on April 16, 2026. [Wahito Kanyiri, Standard] Kenya is facing an apparent shortage of marriage certificates, clergy now say. The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has criticised the government, accusing it of failing to protect the institution of marriage amid delays and shortages in Christian and civil marriage registration. Speaking in Nairobi, bishops led by Nairobi Archbishop Philip Anyolo said inefficiencies in the registration process are discouraging couples from formalising their unions and contributing to social problems. The bishops said couples are facing long delays in notification procedures, difficulties obtaining the certificates and delayed clearance processes. "For some time now, we have been experiencing difficulty in the legal process of civil registration and legalisation of marriage. The process of notification and obtaining certificates has become unnecessarily difficult," they said. Anyolo said there has been a shortage of marriage certificate booklets since November last year, even after officiating officers pay the required Sh25,000 fee. "The clearance process is slow and at times insensitive to the time and dates set," he said. The bishops have revealed that the shortage has prevented many young couples from formalising their unions. "Moreover, we are now experiencing a shortage of marriage certificates. These conditions have discouraged many from contracting marriage, as the statistics show," they said. Kenya's Marriage Act of 2014 recognises several forms of unions, including civil, customary, Christian, Hindu and Islamic marriages. Civil registration is important because it gives couples legal recognition and protection in matters such as inheritance, property rights and child custody. The bishops warned that barriers to legal marriage could create wider social problems. "This is bound to cause a moral dent to society and risks depriving the weaker spouses of their legal rights," said Anyolo. Their remarks come amid concerns from religious leaders and social analysts about changing family structures, declining marriage rates and increasing cohabitation without legal protection. For notification, the couple planning to wed pays Sh600 and additional Sh802 for interview. While economic hardship has often been cited as a major reason, the clergy said administrative failures are now playing an equally damaging role. "We as a country must protect and promote the institution of marriage as provided in the Constitution of Kenya. When our families and the institution of marriage are strong, our society thrives." KCCB further called on the government to urgently streamline the marriage registration process, ensure certificates are available, and restore efficiency in civil services tied to family life.

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