Senators have now initiated a process to introduce an automated Good Conduct Certification system nationwide.

If implemented, Kenyans will be spared the need to travel kilometres to apply for and renew the Police clearance certificates, popularly known as Certificates of Good Conduct.

The lawmakers charged that the system should incorporate advanced technologies such as biometric fingerprint recognition to enhance accuracy, security, and expediency in verifying an individual’s record.

In a motion tabled on the floor of the House, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu said that many Kenyans are currently forced to travel to application and fingerprint centres to obtain the crucial document.

 “The National Police Service Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, should develop and implement an automated good conduct certification system designed to streamline the issuance, renewal, and verification of certificates of good conduct,” said Nyutu.

Major requirement

According to Nyutu, a Certificate of Good Conduct is a major requirement for Kenyan citizens in accessing employment, foreign visits, business opportunities, and in some instances, financial engagements with financial institutions in Kenya.

 “Many Kenyans are compelled to travel long distances to access this service, both for the initial application and for any subsequent applications, making the process tedious, time-consuming, and costly,” said Nyutu. However, its acquisition is tedious and prone to delays, locking out many Kenyans from opportunities they secure.

“The current manual application system is prone to delays and inconsistencies, which may compromise the authenticity and integrity of a Certificate of Good Conduct,” Nyutu said.

Automated system

He called for the urgent need to introduce an automated system, including the utilization of biometric fingerprint verification through the deployment of biometric kits. This will enhance accuracy, security, and expediency in verifying an individual’s record.

“The importance of introducing an automated Good Conduct Certification system, including the utilization of biometric fingerprint verification through the deployment of biometric kits, will enhance accuracy, security, and expediency in verifying an individual’s record,” said Nyutu.

He wants the government to establish decentralized service points and deploy mobile registration units across counties to enhance accessibility, especially in remote areas

The National Police Service (NPS) should also scale up public awareness initiatives in rural areas on the application and renewal process for the certificate of good conduct.

In 2023, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) scrapped the requirement for Kenyans applying for the certificates to book a fingerprinting date at the DCI Headquarters.

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 sought to streamline services and do away with the tiresome process, DCI said the system, which required one to book a day to have their prints taken, had been scrapped from the E-Citizen platform.