The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has expressed deep concern over the acute shortage of marriage certificates across the country, warning that bureaucratic hurdles are discouraging many young couples from formalizing their unions.
In a statement issued today, the bishops highlighted persistent difficulties in the civil registration and legalization of marriages, describing the situation as a significant threat to the stability of families and society contrary to article 45 of the constitution of Kenya which acknowledges the family as the natural and fundamental unit of society and basis of social order.
“Families are the cradle of life and the bedrock of a stable, thriving society,” the statement reads. “Yet today, the sacred institution of marriage, the very foundation of our families is under threat, not from shifting values, but from bureaucratic failure.”
The bishops stressed the need to safeguard marriage as a cornerstone of national well-being. “We must defend the institution of marriage and seek to promote and facilitate the establishment of stable families,” the statement emphasized.
According to the KCCB, couples nationwide are grappling with an increasingly frustrating civil registration process.
In addition to that, the church revealed that the procedures for obtaining marriage notifications and certificates have become cumbersome, with prolonged clearance delays that often disregard planned wedding dates.
“The situation has reached a critical point due to a severe shortage of marriage certificates. These conditions have discouraged many from contracting marriage,” the bishops noted. “Official statistics paint a worrying picture: formal marriages are declining precisely when society needs them most.”
The Church warned that the trend poses serious social and moral risks. “This is bound to cause a moral dent to society and risks depriving the weaker spouses, notably women and children of their essential legal rights and protections,”
The bishops pointed to Article 45 of the Constitution of Kenya, which recognizes the family as the natural and fundamental unit of society and entitles parties to a marriage to equal rights.
“When marriages are strong, Kenya is strong. When families thrive, the nation prospers. It is time for urgent action,” the statement declared.
The KCCB urged the government to act immediately by streamlining the marriage registration process, eliminating unnecessary bottlenecks, and ensuring a reliable supply of marriage certificates.
“Defending marriage is not a mere administrative task, it is a national duty to secure the future of our children and the stability of our society,” the bishops concluded.
