Government brings civil registration services closer to Vihiga residents

MAUREEN IMBAYI-KNA

The Department of Civil Registration has established offices across all six sub-counties in Vihiga County to bring services closer to residents.

Sabatia Sub-County Civil Registrar Edwin Nganga said residents of Sabatia previously had to travel to Mbale, the county headquarters, to obtain birth and death certificates—a process that was costly and inconvenient.

He said that since April 13, 2026 when the Sabatia office was opened and work started he has issued over 50 birth certificates and six death certificates.

The Registrar advised residents to ensure they go to process and collect the birth certificates of their children within three months of registrations to avoid crowding at the office when the birth certificates are needed in schools for registration.

He asked the area assistant chiefs to ensure they take returns of births and deaths and issued birth notifications and burial permits respectively every month, so that the birth and death certificates are processed on time.

Mr Nganga urged residents to be honest and give the correct information when seeking for birth certificates saying some residents are not producing the necessary documents during registration.

“I will not issue birth certificates to applicants who do not have the necessary documents since child trafficking is rampant in Sabatia Sub-County. I am suspecting some of the people coming to the office without the required documents,” he said.

A resident , Jackline Muhonja, commended the government for opening an office close to them saying they do not have to go and crowd in the county office to get services.

Muhonja added that as residents, they are happy since they can walk to the office and have their documents processed unlike previously when they were forced to use a lot of money on transport to go to Mbale to seek the same services.