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In the past two months, Kenya has registered over 270,000 newborns digitally through its newly implemented electronic birth notification system. This system connects hospitals directly to civil registration services, enabling newborns' information to be submitted online and expediting the processing of birth certificates. A recent spot check at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet County highlighted the efficiency of the new system.

Cosmas Langat, a parent, was able to complete the registration process in just five minutes and received his birth notification on the same day. The old manual process required parents to receive physical forms, which were then transported to civil registration offices. Under the new system, civil registration officials log into a portal to input the mother's details electronically.

The e-birth notification system was launched in June by the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, with the goal of processing birth certificates within one to three days. Parents who receive electronic birth notifications can now obtain birth certificates printed without reapplying or visiting a Huduma Centre. Bomet alone has already issued UPIs to more than 38 newborns.

The Unique Personal Identifiers (UPIs) are intended to streamline an individual's records across government services. The government is also integrating the civil registration system with the Ministry of Health's hospital management system, allowing for real-time population data and potentially rendering future censuses unnecessary.

The system's security is ensured through user authentication, requiring civil registration officers to have authorized usernames and receive a one-time password on their phones before accessing the platform.