How to Obtain a Burial Permit in Kenya

Procedure To obtain a disposal permit (burial or cremation) this certificate in duplicate must be taken to the local district registrar’s office. Visit your local district registrar’s office of where the death occurred and present the cause of death certificate (Form 6) to make the application. In this article let us see How to Obtain a Burial Permit in Kenya

Apply In-Person

A. Where a medical practitioner certifies the cause of death
Step 1 : Obtain Register of Death Certificate (Form 6)

• In the case where the death of an individual has death occurred in a hospital or a medical practitioner has confirmed the cause of death. One should request to be issued the register of death Form 6 by the medical practitioner or hospital.
• The medical practitioner/ hospital completes Form No. 6 Register of Death in triplicate outlining the particulars in relation to the death. These information include

(a) full names of the deceased
(b) date of death
(c) gender
(d) age of deceased ( years and months)
(e) occupation
(f) exact place of death
(g) normal place of residence
(h) cause of death (immediate cause)
(i) other significant information leading to death

• After “Form 6” has been filled, you will be given two copies of the certificate to present to the local district registrar’s office.

Step 2 : Obtain Disposal Permit (Burial or Cremation)

• To obtain a disposal permit (burial or cremation) this certificate in duplicate must be taken to the local district registrar’s office.
• Visit your local district registrar’s office of where the death occurred and present the cause of death certificate (Form 6) to make the application.
• You will be required to produce the National Identification Card or Birth Certificate of the deceased to the registrar’s office.
• Upon submission of Form 6 together with the required documents to the registrar’s office you will be issued with a burial permit.
  

B. Where no medical certificate of cause of death
Step 1 : Obtain Death report

• Visit the nearest police station from where the death occurred and report the death.
• The police officer in charge will conduct you with an interview to establish the cause of death and your relationship with the diseased.
• The police officer will the issue you with a death report.

Step 2 : Obtain Disposal Permit (Burial or Cremation)

1. Visit your local district registrar’s office of where the death occurred and present the death report issued by the police.
2. The district registrar will interview the applicant to determine his/her relationship to the deceased and nature of death.
3. You will are required to produce the National Identification Card or Birth Certificate of the deceased to the registrar’s office.
4. You will then be issued with Form No. 7 Register of Death to fill. The following information are required to fill form No. 7
   (a) Full names of the deceased
   (b) Date of death
   (c) Gender
   (d) Age of deceased (years and months)
   (e) Occupation
   (f) Exact place of death
   (g) Normal place of residence
   (h) Cause of death (apparent cause) (Natural or unnatural)
5. Upon submission of Form 7 together with the required documents you will be issued with a burial permit.

Required Documents

1. A copy of the National Identity Card of the deceased or any other document certifying his identity ( birth certificate)
2. Form 7. Certificate of cause of death
3. National Id of next of kin making application
   

Office Locations & Contacts

Department of Civil Registration
Hass Plaza 4th Floor, Lower Hill Road,
P.O Box 49179- 00100 Nairobi
Tel; +254-20-2714987/8
Fax: 2714989
Email: director@crd.go.ke
Website: Department of Civil Registration

Eligibility

• Next of Kin of the deceased are eligible to obtain a burial permit for the deceased.
  

Fees

• The application is free of charge.
  

Validity

• The burial permit is valid until the burial takes place. Then it loses its validity.
  

Documents to Use

• Application forms Form No.6 or Form No.7 are provided at hospitals or the registrar’s offices respectively.

Processing Time

• The burial permit is issued on the day of application.

Instructions

• Obtain certificate of cause of death from hospital or medical practitioner (Form No. 7) or a death report from the police
• Present the certificate or death report to the registrar’s office together with identification documents for the deceased
• Provide relevant information to thee registrar to obtain burial permit.
  

Required Information

1. full names of the deceased
2. date of death
3. gender
4. age of deceased ( years and months)
5. occupation
6. exact place of death
7. normal place of residence
8. cause of death (immediate cause)
9. other significant information leading to death

Need for the Document

• One need a burial permit in Kenya in order to bury/cremate a body in Kenya.
• There is a No burial without permit in Kenya which states that; No person shall bury, cremate or otherwise dispose of the body of any deceased person the registration of whose death is compulsory, without a permit issued in accordance with sections 19 and 20 of this the Births And Deaths Registration Act.

Information which might help

• Every person notifying a death shall, to the best of his knowledge and ability, give the prescribed particulars, which shall be entered by the registrar in the register of deaths.
• The person notifying the death is to certify to the correctness of the entry by signing to the death register.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

• The burial permit is a pre-requisite document for the application for a death certificate.

External Links

Births and Deaths Registration Act.: Births and Deaths Registration Act

Others

Certificates of cause of death:

1. In the case of the death occurring in Kenya of any person who has been attended during his last illness by a medical practitioner, that practitioner shall sign a certificate stating to the best of his knowledge and belief the cause of death.
2. Every medical practitioner who refuses or fails without reasonable excuse to comply with this provision shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred shillings.