The government has upgraded the Police Clearance Certificate system enhancing the production of the documents popularly known as Certificate of Good Conduct.
The move will now enable the processing speed of the certificates from the initial 14 days to one day.
This will effectively contribute to the clearance of the backlog while also matching the corresponding number of applications to those processed in a day.
This is after the Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin Tuesday presided over the signing of a contract between the DCI and M/S Idemia Southern and Eastern Africa Limited that will enable the upgrading of the Police Clearance Certificate system from the currently used Automated Palm and Fingerprint Identification System (APFIS) to Multi Biometric Identification System (MBIS).
Amin said this upgrade comes as a response to mitigate legitimate concerns from members of the public regarding the delays experienced in the processing of the Police Clearance Certificates (PCC).
“The new system, MBIS will improve the processing speed of the certificates from the initial 14 days to one day, thus effectively contributing to the clearance of the backlog while also matching the corresponding number of applications to those processed in a day,” he said.
Additionally, he said, the new system is fully bolstered to support livescans of the PCC applications in 52 Huduma Centres across the Country, at the DCI Headquarters and police stations.
This feature will tremendously reduce paperwork in the whole process of acquisition of a Police Clearance Certificate.
Moreover, while the old system was only able to store two million criminal records, the new system has a storage capacity of up to 10 million, the managers said.
Amin affirmed his confidence that the new system will address the concerns arising from the delayed processing of the Police Clearance Certificates.
He further emphasized the directorate's commitment to offer this service with utmost dedication.
He said applicants no longer need to book fingerprinting dates on the eCitizen portal but must select their preferred fingerprinting centres based on convenience.
More so, to avoid instances of return to sender, applicants are reminded to ensure that the ID card copies attached to the filled application forms are well duplicated, with attention to the thumbprint impression.
Some applicants say they have been waiting for the documents for up to seven months.
The DCI is now rushing to clear the backlog.
The Police Clearance Certificates are crucial for many who for instance need jobs and want to travel to some countries.
How to apply for the certificate.
Applicants are usually encouraged to fill out the forms on the e-citizen platform, select the mode of payment, pay for the police clearance and download and print two copies of their invoice, and one copy of their C24 on both sides On an A4 paper.
The applicants are urged to present the C24 and invoices with an original National ID for adults and original birth certificate for minors, to the DCI for fingerprint recording and processing
During the submission, downloaded two copies of the invoice and one copy of the C24 printed on both sides of a C24 should be availed.
The applicant should appear in person and must allow his/her fingerprints and palm prints to be recorded on a prescribed fingerprint form C24.
Those out of the country can send their professional fingerprinted forms.
Kenyan children under 18, will make applications through their parents' or guardians' e-citizen accounts.
A C24 is a form where one's fingerprints are taken and can be downloaded from the e-citizen portal.
It advised those living in the city to seek the service at the Huduma Centers, to avoid long queues at the headquarters.
Once generated, your certificate remains on your e-citizen account for a period of six months after which it is pulled down.