Kenyans to get good conduct certificates in less than 5 minutes as DCI expands new biometric system
Kenyans seeking Police Clearance Certificates, commonly known as Certificates of Good Conduct, could soon spend significantly less time waiting for the crucial document following the expansion of a new biometric identification system to four additional counties. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) says the Multi-Biometric Identification System (MBIS) has been installed in Eldoret,…
Kenyans applying for Police Clearance Certificates, known as Certificates of Good Conduct, will soon receive their documents more swiftly thanks to the expansion of a biometric identification system by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The Multi-Biometric Identification System (MBIS) has been installed in four additional counties, including Eldoret, Kitale, Kitui, and Garissa.
This advancement allows applicants to obtain their certificates in under five minutes, a significant improvement from the previous requirement of at least 14 working days. The DCI introduced these new installations on November 10, 2026, as part of its efforts to decentralize Police Clearance Certificate services and make them more accessible to the public.
Two teams were deployed to different regions for the installations: one led by Principal Criminal Registrar Winnie Kirai, SSP, in Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia counties, and another led by Eng. Nicholas Tanui, ASP, in Kitui and Garissa counties. Training sessions were held by the DCI to equip Huduma Centre personnel and police officers with the necessary skills to operate the system.
The Multi-Biometric Identification System employs advanced technology to capture and analyze biometric data such as fingerprints, palm prints, and facial recognition. This technology enhances the speed and accuracy of identity verification while improving the management of criminal records. The DCI officially launched the upgraded MBIS Version 5 on July 23, 2026, at its headquarters in Nairobi with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen presiding over the event.
This new system is projected to cut processing times for Police Clearance Certificates from an average of 14 days to just one day under optimal conditions. It also increased the system's record-handling capacity from two million to 10 million records and raised daily fingerprint searches from around 4,500 to 20,000. The expansion follows previous deployments in other parts of the country, with 20 additional centers connected to the system in September 2026 and 26 out of 63 Police Clearance Certificate application centers linked by October 14, 2026.
Applicants must apply for a Police Clearance Certificate through the eCitizen platform, where they log into their accounts, select the service, complete the application, and choose a fingerprinting center. After paying the required fee, they must print two copies of their invoice and a fingerprint form, then present the documents and their national identity card at the selected fingerprinting center for biometric capture and processing.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
