New biometric system cuts police clearance waiting time

By Mutai Kipng’etich and Synthia Ochola (KNA)

Kirinyaga County residents can now obtain certificates of good conduct within minutes following the installation of a biometric identification system at the Kerugoya Huduma Centre.

The Biometric Multiple Identification System, introduced in partnership with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), has reduced processing time significantly, enabling applicants to receive police clearance certificates in as little as two minutes.

Kerugoya Huduma Centre Manager Stella Mukami said the system was rolled out three weeks ago and has already attracted a growing number of clients seeking faster and more efficient services.

“We have a system that we have set up along with the DCI called the Biometric Multiple Identification System. If you come here to Huduma Centre at this time, you can get your certificate of good conduct within two minutes,” said Mukami.

She said the technology had eliminated the lengthy waiting periods previously associated with obtaining the document, which often took between two and three weeks to process.

“Previously, people used to wait for a period of between two to three weeks to get a certificate of good conduct, but right now there is no waiting anymore,” she said.

Mukami urged residents of Kirinyaga County and the general public to take advantage of the service, assuring them that the system was operational and ready to serve applicants.

Applicants seeking the certificate are required to pay Sh1,050 through the e-Citizen platform and present the payment printout at the centre for biometric identification and processing.

The manager also encouraged young people to apply for certificates of good conduct early rather than wait until they need them for employment or other official requirements.

Besides police clearance services, Kerugoya Huduma Centre provides a range of government services, including same-day birth certificate processing, National Social Security Fund (NSSF) services, Social Health Authority (SHA) services, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) services, national identity card registration and replacement, and National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) services.

Other services available include e-Citizen assistance, voter registration, Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA) services and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) services.

The centre also assists senior citizens with pension processing and issues police abstracts to people who have lost their national identity cards, enabling them to apply for replacements.

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