The government is seeking to streamline the issuance of Certificates of Good Conduct through a proposed KSh2.71 billion technology upgrade aimed at reducing delays and cutting the need for repeat physical applications.The planned reforms, currently under consideration by lawmakers, would allow Kenyans renewing police clearance certificates to do so online without resubmitting fingerprints every time. The changes are part of proposed amendments to the National Police Service Act.
Under the proposal, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) would establish and manage a secure biometric database capable of storing applicants’ fingerprint records for future use. Once biometrics are captured during the initial application, subsequent renewals would largely be processed digitally.
Kanduyi MP John Makali, who is backing the Bill, said the intention is to eliminate the repeated requirement for applicants to appear physically for biometric registration after their data has already been recorded.
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The reforms come amid growing pressure on the DCI, which handles close to one million Certificate of Good Conduct applications every year. The high demand has strained Huduma Centres and other service points, contributing to long queues and delays that often affect job opportunities, business contracts, and migration processes.
To support the transition, the government is upgrading its fingerprint infrastructure to a Multi-Biometric Identification System in a project expected to run for five years. The initiative is projected to cost KSh2.71 billion, with KSh1.138 billion already allocated. However, authorities still face a funding shortfall of approximately KSh1.57 billion ahead of the targeted completion date in the 2028/29 financial year.
Supporters of the proposal say the digital system could significantly reduce processing times, ease pressure on public service centres, and lower compliance costs for both workers and employers. The changes are also expected to benefit Kenyans living abroad, many of whom currently incur substantial travel expenses simply to submit biometric data for certificate renewals.
