Kenya has launched online marriage services in efforts to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 at the Registrar of Marriage.
Local Daily Nation reports Winnie Guchu, the State Law Office Chief Administrative Secretary, to say that couples will now be required to do the entire registration process on a government portal.
“There will be no more manual services at the registrar of marriage at Sheria House as all services will be available online,” she said.
“We do not want any couple coming for services at Sheria House unless it is of utmost importance.”
Marriage services at the Registrar’s office were initially suspended in May as authorities saw the huge numbers as a possible risk factor in the spread of COVID-19.
According to the Daily Nation, before the COVID-19 outbreak, Sheria House used to attend to about 400 clients during low season and 600 clients during the high season months of August and December. The closure in May resulted to the suspension of 2,551 marriages, officials said.
Kenya is one of only ten countries in Africa that have reported more than 9,000 COVID-19 infections.
The East African country has seen a recent spike in new daily cases, and reported its highest single-day spike on Friday as the health ministry announced 473 new infections.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday announced an easing of COVID-19 restriction as the country seeks to emerge from the impact of the pandemic.
Kenyans will now be able to hold religious activities and weddings, but under strict health guidelines that limit attendance.
