The Interior Ministry’s State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services has announced the loss of 900 birth certificates from its Mutomo registration office in Kitui County. The missing certificates, detailed in a public notice issued on Tuesday, October 15, involve nine booklets containing 100 certificates each.
Paul Mwangemi, the acting Secretary of Civil Registration Services, confirmed the loss, specifying that the missing certificates are serialized as follows:
– 1502001 to 1502100
– 1502101 to 1502200
– 1502201 to 1502300
– 1502301 to 1502400
– 1502401 to 1502500
– 1502501 to 1502600
– 1502601 to 1502700
– 1502701 to 1502800
– 1502801 to 1502900
In his notice, Mwangemi cautioned the public that these certificates are now invalid. “The Department hereby cautions the general public that the said birth certificates have been canceled thereby rendering them invalid,” he stated.
The acting secretary also urged anyone in possession of any birth certificates from the aforementioned serial numbers to return them immediately to the Secretary of Civil Registration Services at Hass Plaza, Lower Hill.
Details regarding how or when the certificates went missing have yet to be disclosed by the ministry. Authorities have not provided additional information on the circumstances surrounding the loss, raising concerns among local residents.
The invalidation of the certificates could affect individuals who may unknowingly hold the lost documents, and the Department is urging compliance to prevent potential misuse or legal complications. Local authorities are expected to investigate the matter further.
The Civil Registration Services Office plays a critical role in issuing legal documents such as birth and death certificates across Kenya, making the loss of such documents a significant concern for both security and administrative functions.
