New Tiaty office to ease birth, death registrations

Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Residents of Tiaty in Baringo now have access to their first office for birth and death certificate registration.

The long-awaited facility, located at Chemolingot shopping centre, aims to save locals from making grueling trips of up to 300 km to Kabarnet for the same services.

The government launched the office on Friday, November 22, offering a crucial solution for the predominantly pastoral community where access to civil registration services has been a major challenge.

Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the office aims to improve registration rates, especially among children who remain unregistered due to long travel distances, difficult terrain and insecurity.

“Some residents have been covering nearly 300 km to Kabarnet. This has been a huge financial and time cost. We want to bring this to an end so that people can obtain birth certificates quickly and affordably,” said Bitok.

Tiaty MP William Kamket said the long travel distances to government offices had led to low registration numbers.

He added that many residents were forced to sell livestock or incur high costs for the journey to Kabarnet.

“The journey from Kolowa to Kabarnet is around 300 km and there are no roads. It costs Sh3,000 one way. It takes more than a day, and you have to factor in food and accommodation,” he noted.

Bitok also announced plans for a mobile National Identity card registration drive in Tiaty for those yet to register.

Chemolingot is now the fifth Civil Registration Services (CRS) office in Baringo County. Other CRS offices are in Kabarnet, Mogotio, Ravine and Kabartonjo.