You might be desperately looking for your birth certificate right now, wondering where you placed it last. You’ve checked everywhere and even asked your family members if they know where it is but nothing has come out of it.

So you take out your phone and do the next logical thing to do in this informational age; google. You either search how to renew your certificate or where to find your birth certificate number at least for now as you continue searching for the document.

And probably that’s how you stumbled here. Gotcha!

The government is yet to actualize the dream it sold Kenyans with the hyped Huduma number that would contain all personal information in one document or reference point. They made it seem like a solution from heaven. Until today, it remains a façade.

How to apply for birth certificate online

1. Visit eCitizen Portal
2. Log into your account
3. Click on Civil Registration Department
4. Log into your account once again
5. Click on Make Application
6. Go to Birth Certificate and select the type of birth certificate you want.
7. A new page with guidelines will appear. In this case, I will assume the case of an adult seeking a birth certificate. One is required to fill an online application, upload required documents, pay and wait.
8. Click on Apply Now
9. At stage one, select type of Application as Replacement BC (Birth Certificate). The portal might indicate a notification on the areas supported which at this moment is Nairobi only. If your area isn’t supported you must visit the Huduma Centre to get your Birth certificate. Click on Continue
10. Input personal information which includes your Birth Certificate number. Hence if you cannot remember or have a record of it, you have to visit the closest Huduma Centre for further guidance.
11. Upload the required documents which include scanned copies of the following depending on the Birth Certificate: Birth notification, National ID for applicants above 18 years, Both parent’s ID where applicable and Original birth certificate (in some cases). If you don’t have a birth notification document, you ought to visit your local sub-chiefs office to start with.
12. Select the centre from which you’d like to pick your certificate and proceed to the next step.
13. Review the information provided and click on Submit
14. In the payment section, choose your preferred method of payment. The easiest and most convenient is through M-Pesa where you use E-citizen paybill number 206206 and an account number provided by the system. The cost is usually between 150 and 200 depending on the type of birth certificate.
15. Upon successful payment, all you need to do is wait for e-Citizen Staff to contact your through SMS on when and where to get your birth certificate.

Apart from application for Birth Certificate, e-Citizen does not offer any other online services. Checking your Birth Certificate registration number online is therefore not possible at the moment since you have to know the number even before you think of applying for a replacement Birth certificate.

So, keep on searching for your birth certificate and once you recover it, scan and keep a PDF copy of it on your Email in case you need it in future.