How to apply for aDeath Certificate

A death certificate is a legal document that records the details of a person’s death, including how, when, where, and who the deceased was. According to Section 17 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, the registrar of deaths must be notified of a death within 30 days.

Fred Matiangi’, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior Services, has announced that death and burial registration services are now available at all Huduma Centres nationwide. It typically takes about three days to obtain a death certificate.

A death certificate serves several important purposes:

Transferring insurance and assets of the deceased.
Providing closure and acceptance of death for personal reasons.
Supporting court procedures and legal processes.
Officially recording the death with the Government of Kenya.
Transferring ownership titles from the deceased to another person.

Relatives or significant others of the deceased can access the death certificate at a Huduma Centre, Civil Registration Office, or the Bishop’s Office.

Requirements for Accessing a Death Certificate

Deceased’s National Identity Card: If the deceased was an adult (18 years and above), the national ID card verifies citizenship.
Burial Permit: A burial permit from the government is a prerequisite for applying for a death certificate.
Form D4: This form, provided by the Civil Registration Office, is used for applying for a death certificate. It includes the place and date of death, sex, age of the deceased, and the applicant’s name.
Purpose for Certification: Applicants must state their relationship to the deceased and the reason for applying for the certificate.