This is a guide on how to apply for a death certificate in Kenya. This is a legal document issued by the District Registrar’s office that declares the date, location and cause of a person’s death as later entered in an official register of deaths. Reporting the occurrence of death must be done as soon as it occurs and not later than one month after the occurrence. The report is made to the area Assistant Chief’s office if the death occurs at home or to the hospital personnel if the death occurs in the hospital. The Assistant chief or the hospital personnel will then issue you with a burial permit free of charge.
How to apply for Death Certificate
1. Obtain a death application form from the District Registrar’s office where the death occurred. You can also download the death application form here
2. After filling the form, attach the burial permit to facilitate the search of record at the District civil Registrars’ office. You will then attach the deceased’s national identity card.
3. Attach a death certificate fee of Kshs. 50 and any record amendment fee as advised by the office in case amendments are required on the original record of death. You will pay Ksh 90 for amendment death certificate.
4. Return the completed death certificate application form with the relevant fee to the District Civil Registrar.
Death Certificate Processing Time in Kenya
It is issued within 3 days in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu. In the districts, it takes 1 day.
It’s good to have a death certificate of your loved one because it will help in the process of inheritance, issuance of retirement benefits, act as a proof of parenthood, or even help the government update its various registers.
