Some Kenyans applying for Certificates of Good Conduct may have to wait longer for their documents despite the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) introducing a system designed to reduce processing time to about 24 hours.
Huduma Kenya has clarified that the one-day turnaround time does not apply to all applications, particularly those submitted before the new instant processing system was introduced.
The explanation came after an applicant raised concerns over waiting for a month to receive a Certificate of Good Conduct despite the DCI’s announcement that the document could now be processed within a day.
Responding to the complaint, Huduma Kenya said the 24-hour timeline applies to applications being made under the new system.
Those who applied before the system was rolled out, however, will have to wait for their applications to be processed.
“The instant good conducts are those being applied now. Those that been applied before give it time for processing,” Huduma Kenya said.
The agency advised applicants who are still waiting to regularly check their eCitizen accounts, where the certificate will be available for download once processing is complete.
Applicants can also contact the DCI through the contacts provided on the eCitizen platform if they need further assistance.
New system cuts processing time
The clarification comes a few weeks after the DCI introduced a new biometric system aimed at speeding up the processing of Police Clearance Certificates.
On July 23, DCI Director General Amin Mohamed announced the launch of the Multi-Biometric Identification System (MBIS), which combines fingerprint, palmprint and facial recognition capabilities in one system.
The system was introduced as part of efforts to improve criminal investigations while also making it easier for Kenyans to access police clearance services.
At the time, Mohamed said the system could reduce the processing time for Certificates of Good Conduct from about 14 days to around one day under optimal operating conditions.
The new technology is also expected to improve the speed and accuracy of biometric identification during criminal investigations.
However, the latest clarification from Huduma Kenya shows that the shorter processing time mainly applies to new applications made through the upgraded system.
For Kenyans who applied before the changes, the older applications are still being processed.
The Certificate of Good Conduct is commonly required when applying for jobs, immigration services, licences and other official processes.
Those waiting for their certificates have been advised to keep checking their eCitizen accounts and seek assistance from the DCI if their applications take longer than expected.
