By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
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Kenya, July 23, 2026 - Kenyans seeking Certificates of Good Conduct will soon receive the document within a day after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) unveiled a new biometric identification platform designed to eliminate the lengthy processing delays that have frustrated applicants for years.
The Directorate announced that it will roll out the Multi-Biometric Identification System (MBIS)-ABIS Version 5, an upgraded digital platform that enhances biometric identity verification and significantly speeds up the issuance of Police Clearance Certificates, commonly known as Certificates of Good Conduct.
"Starting Monday, July 20, 2026, we rolled out the Multi-Biometric Identification System (MBIS)-ABIS Version 5, a game-changing platform built to fast-track processing and deliver faster, smarter service," the DCI said.
"No more long waits. Better technology. Better experience."
The development is expected to benefit thousands of Kenyans who require Certificates of Good Conduct when applying for jobs, university admissions, visas, government tenders and professional licences.
Previously, applicants often waited up to two weeks or longer to receive the certificate, with delays frequently disrupting employment opportunities and other time-sensitive applications.
The upgraded platform is expected to reduce the turnaround time to one day, fulfilling a digital transformation project first announced in 2024 to modernise the country's criminal records management system.
Unlike the previous platform, which primarily relied on fingerprint matching, the new MBIS-ABIS Version 5 supports multiple biometric identifiers, including fingerprints, palm prints and facial recognition, allowing for quicker and more accurate identity verification.
Applicants will continue submitting their applications through the eCitizen platform before visiting designated DCI offices or Huduma Centres for biometric capture.
Once fingerprints and other biometric data are captured, the upgraded system will rapidly compare them against the national criminal database before issuing the clearance certificate where applicable.
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The introduction of the new technology is part of broader government efforts to clear persistent backlogs that have affected the issuance of Police Clearance Certificates.
When the MBIS project was first commissioned, DCI Director Mohamed Amin said the new platform would dramatically improve efficiency by increasing processing capacity while supporting biometric capture across all 52 Huduma Centres, DCI headquarters and police stations nationwide.
The upgraded system also expands storage capacity for criminal records, enabling the Directorate to manage substantially more biometric data than the previous platform while improving search accuracy.
The rollout forms part of the government's wider agenda to digitise public services through the eCitizen platform and reduce waiting times for essential government documents.
The Certificate of Good Conduct remains one of the country's most sought-after public documents, particularly among young graduates entering the labour market and Kenyans seeking employment opportunities abroad.
By shortening processing time from weeks to a single day, the DCI hopes to improve service delivery, reduce congestion at application centres and enhance public confidence in one of its most frequently accessed services.