Nairobi residents are facing growing frustration over severe delays in obtaining birth certificates, a critical document for school enrollment and other essential services.
The issue has particularly affected Huduma Centers across the city, including GPO, Hass Plaza, and Bishop House in Upper Hill.
Many Kenyans have reported long-standing backlogs and a lack of clear communication from officials, leaving them helpless and stranded.
One parent, who has been trying to secure a birth certificate for their child since November of last year, shared their ordeal.
Despite visiting multiple Huduma Centers, the response has remained consistent delays with no explanation.
The parent expressed their disappointment, noting how government services that were once relatively efficient have become unreliable.
Some individuals have been waiting since as far back as July, with no end in sight.
Attempts to find out the reason for these delays have yielded no meaningful answers.
One official reportedly mentioned that the backlogs are just “the way these offices are these days,” an explanation that has left citizens feeling ignored and neglected.
The parent also highlighted how such delays are not just inconvenient but life-altering.
Their child is now unable to join school because the birth certificate is a mandatory requirement for registration.
Comparing the current situation to previous regimes, the parent noted that birth certificates used to be processed within a month, or even two weeks in some cases. Now, months-long delays are the norm.
This has led to questions about the priorities of the government and the level of inefficiency in public service delivery.
The frustration is palpable at these centers, where people spend entire days waiting without any assistance, only to be sent home empty-handed.
There is growing public demand for urgent intervention from the government.
Some have called on the Ministry of Education to allow children to join schools without birth certificates, just as they permitted students to enroll in secondary school without KCPE results.
However, such solutions are yet to be implemented, leaving families stuck in a cycle of frustration and despair.
The experience at Nairobi Huduma Centers paints a grim picture of the state of public services in the city.
Citizens are left wondering whether similar challenges exist in other parts of the country or if Nairobi’s centers are uniquely plagued by inefficiency.
For many, these delays are a stark reminder of the insensitivity and apparent disregard for the struggles of ordinary Kenyans.
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