DCI now says booking appointment to get police clearance certificate not necessary

Kenyans will no longer be required to book a fingerprinting date while applying for the police clearance certificate (formally known as the certificate of good conduct), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) now says.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DCI said that citizens seeking the certificate would only be required to present the requisite documents at any centre within their proximity, after which fingerprints would be taken as the process commences.

In a move that seeks to streamline services and do away with the tiresome process, the multi-agency body said the system which required one to book for a day to have their prints taken had been scrapped from the eCitizen platform.

“You are no longer required to book a fingerprinting date while applying for the Police Clearance Certificate (formally Good Conduct),” read a section of the statement.

“This section has been removed from the portal. Applicants are encouraged to visit their convenient fingerprint centres with their printed C24 copies, payment vouchers and original ID cards.”

The State agency also noted that the same system, which was initially available only at the DCI headquarters, will henceforth also be available at Huduma Centres across the country.

“To avoid long queues, city dwellers are reminded that this service is equally available at the Huduma Centres,” stated the DCI.

Applicants who still want to obtain their certificates from the DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road were further notified that the premises would only be opened for the said service from 7am to 3pm.

Similarly, DCI advised those who apply and obtain their documents to download them and keep printed copies in their person, noting that the certificates would be pulled down from the eCitizen website after six months.

“For those choosing DCI Headquarters as their preferred centre, please note that PCC applicants access the fingerprinting facility between 7.00AM and 3.00PM. After 3pm, only those within the centre are served,” added the statement.

“Once generated, your certificate remains on your eCitizen account for a period of 6 months after which it is pulled down. Hence, applicants who seek to use the certificate for a longer period are advised to download and keep printed copies to avoid future frustrations.”

In the last few months, citizens have been decrying poor service delivery with an applicant required to wait for weeks or months before they have their fingerprints taken.