Diplomats, foreign nationals and staff of international missions can now apply for Police Clearance Certificates at the Diplomatic Police Unit headquarters following the expansion of a digital identification system aimed at speeding up the process.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the latest rollout extends access to its Multi-Biometric Identification System (MBIS), allowing members of the diplomatic community to apply locally without travelling to DCI headquarters or Huduma Centres.
“The launch extends access to the digital service to the diplomatic community as part of the ongoing nationwide rollout, which is aimed at improving the efficiency and accessibility of PCC processing,” DCI said.
The expansion builds on the system’s introduction at DCI headquarters in Nairobi on July 23 when Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen officially launched the upgraded platform.
The launch marked a shift from the previous automated palm and fingerprint identification system to a platform incorporating several biometric identification methods.
According to the DCI, the new system is designed to improve the processing of police clearance applications while strengthening the identification capabilities used in criminal investigations.
“The MBIS has reduced PCC processing time from 14 days to same-day issuance, increased record-handling capacity from 2 million to 10 million records, and raised daily search capacity from 4,500 to 20,000,” the agency said.
The figures represent the performance improvements reported by the DCI following the system’s introduction.
The Kenya News Agency also reported at the July launch that the platform was expected to reduce certificate processing time from as long as 14 days to within 24 hours.
The system uses fingerprint, palm-print and facial recognition technology to support identity verification. Its digital capture process replaces the traditional ink-based collection of fingerprints and paper-heavy procedures.
“The system integrates fingerprint, palm print and facial recognition technologies to enhance identification accuracy and strengthen forensic capabilities in criminal investigations,” the DCI said.
Beyond police clearance applications, the technology is intended to support criminal records management and help investigators identify individuals through biometric information.
The DCI’s Forensic Fingerprint Identification Bureau maintains the national repository of criminal records and handles forensic fingerprint analysis, police clearance certificates and the identification of individuals through fingerprint evidence.
In September 2026, the second phase of the MBIS rollout connected 20 additional application centres, primarily serving the Central Region and neighbouring areas.
The expansion brought the number of connected Police Clearance Certificate application centres to 26 out of 63 nationwide, including six previously connected centres in Nairobi, according to the DCI.
The second phase covered locations in Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Samburu, Kirinyaga, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, Meru and Isiolo counties.
The latest addition at the Diplomatic Police Unit headquarters extends the service to a specialised group of applicants whose work and residence arrangements may make travel to other application centres less convenient.
The DCI’s published application guidelines already provide for foreign nationals living in Kenya to apply for police clearance certificates through the eCitizen portal. Applicants must select the appropriate immigration category and provide the required documentation before proceeding with fingerprint capture.
The agency says applicants are notified when their certificates are ready for download through their eCitizen accounts.
The nationwide rollout of the biometric system is continuing, with the remaining application centres expected to be connected as the expansion progresses.
