By Robert Mutasi 
Kenyans seeking Police Clearance Certificates, commonly known as Certificates of Good Conduct, are set to benefit from faster processing following the expansion of a new biometric identification system to four additional counties.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has installed the Multi-Biometric Identification System (MBIS) in Eldoret, Kitale, Kitui and Garissa, in a move aimed at reducing waiting times and improving access to police clearance services across the country.
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According to the DCI, the upgraded technology is expected to enable applicants to obtain their Police Clearance Certificates in less than five minutes, compared to the previous processing timeline of at least 14 working days.
The latest expansion is particularly significant for residents of Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia counties, who will now have improved access to the service through designated Huduma Centres in Eldoret and Kitale.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, the DCI said the installations formed part of its nationwide efforts to decentralise Police Clearance Certificate services and improve efficiency in public service delivery.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has today stepped up the rollout of its new Multi-Biometric Identification System, a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing efficiency and improving service delivery in North Eastern and North Rift which will enable members of the public to apply for and obtain their Police Clearance Certificates in less than five minutes,” the agency stated.
The DCI added that two technical teams had been deployed to different regions to install the system and train police officers and Huduma Centre personnel on its operation.
The first team, led by Principal Criminal Registrar Winnie Kirai, SSP, handled installations in Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia counties, covering Eldoret and Kitale.
A second team, led by Eng. Nicholas Tanui, ASP, supervised the installation exercise in Kitui and Garissa counties.
In Kitui, the DCI worked alongside County Criminal Investigations Officer Cecilia Mugambi, CP, the Deputy Huduma Centre Manager and other personnel, who received training on operating the new technology.
In Garissa, the installation was conducted in collaboration with Huduma Centre Manager Mohammed Abdulahi.
The agency encouraged residents in the four counties to visit their nearest designated Huduma Centres to access the improved Police Clearance Certificate services.
The Multi-Biometric Identification System uses advanced technology to capture and analyse several biometric identifiers, including fingerprints, palm prints and facial recognition data.
The technology is designed to strengthen identity verification, improve the accuracy of criminal record searches and significantly reduce the time required to process Police Clearance Certificates.
The upgraded platform replaces the Automated Palm and Fingerprint Identification System, which had been in operation since 2016.
The DCI officially launched the upgraded MBIS Version 5 at its headquarters in Nairobi on July 23, 2026, during an event presided over by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
During the launch, the government announced that the new technology would reduce the processing time for Police Clearance Certificates from an average of 14 days to as little as one day under optimum operating conditions.
The system also increased the DCI’s record-handling capacity from two million to 10 million records.
Additionally, its daily fingerprint search capacity rose from approximately 4,500 to 20,000 searches, improving the agency’s ability to handle a growing number of applications.
The latest installations are part of a wider nationwide rollout intended to bring Police Clearance Certificate services closer to Kenyans.
In September 2026, the DCI extended the service to 20 additional centres, mainly covering the Central Region and neighbouring areas.
By October 14, the agency had reported that 26 of the country’s 63 Police Clearance Certificate application centres had been connected to the new system, including six centres previously equipped in Nairobi.
The service was also extended to the Diplomatic Police Unit headquarters, allowing diplomats, foreign nationals and personnel from international missions to apply for Police Clearance Certificates without necessarily travelling to DCI headquarters or Huduma Centres.
The latest expansion to Eldoret, Kitale, Kitui and Garissa brings the technology closer to more applicants as the government continues working towards nationwide accessibility.
Kenyans seeking Police Clearance Certificates are required to submit their applications through the government’s eCitizen platform.
The application process involves the following steps:
- Log in to your eCitizen account using your registered credentials.
- Select the Police Clearance Certificate service.
- Complete the application form and select your preferred fingerprinting centre.
- Make the prescribed payment through the available payment options.
- Download and print two copies of your invoice and a copy of the C24 fingerprint form.
- Visit your selected fingerprinting centre with the printed documents and your original national identity card for biometric capture.
Once the application has been processed and the certificate is ready, applicants receive an SMS notification directing them to download the document through their eCitizen accounts.
The DCI has designated its headquarters and Huduma Centres across the country as fingerprinting locations, with separate arrangements for refugees and Kenyans living abroad.
With the expansion of the Multi-Biometric Identification System, residents of Eldoret, Kitale, Kitui and Garissa are expected to benefit from faster and more accessible Police Clearance Certificate services.
The nationwide rollout is expected to continue as the DCI works towards modernising criminal identification services and reducing delays that have traditionally affected applicants.
EldoretLeo 
Baraka Simba