How to Get a Certificate of Good Conduct in Kenya (2026): eCitizen, Fingerprints & Timeline
Police clearance for a job, a visa or a tender. Apply on eCitizen for KES 1,050, book your fingerprinting, and here's the real timeline — not the '24-hour' promise — and how to avoid a redo.
A Certificate of Good Conduct (police clearance) is asked for by employers, embassies and tenders. You apply and pay on eCitizen, then attend one in-person fingerprinting session. The application is easy; the thing to plan for is the timeline.
Step by step
- Apply on eCitizen. Log in to eCitizen, open the DCI (Directorate of Criminal Investigations) service, and start a Police Clearance Certificate application. You cannot apply manually at a DCI office without doing this first.
- Pay KES 1,050. Pay online by M-Pesa or card — KES 1,000 plus a KES 50 service fee. Pay before you book fingerprints.
- Print your C24 form and invoice. Download and print both; you carry them to fingerprinting.
- Book a fingerprinting appointment. Choose a DCI office or Huduma Centre and a date. Fingerprinting is mandatory and in person.
- Attend and give your fingerprints. Take your National ID, the printed C24 and the invoice. An officer takes your prints on the C24.
- Wait, then download or collect. Processing is usually 2–6 weeks after fingerprinting. Download the certificate from eCitizen (or collect it) once it is ready.
Cost: KES 1,050. Valid: one year.
For the job
Write a CV that gets interviews →
The Kenyan CV format — and a free builder — for the role you need the certificate for.
Travelling?
Apply for a Kenyan passport →
Often needed alongside good conduct for a visa — the fees, documents and timeline.
Frequently asked
How much does it cost?
KES 1,050 — KES 1,000 plus a KES 50 service fee — paid on eCitizen by M-Pesa or card.
How long does it really take?
The '24-hour' or 'a few days' promise is optimistic. Budget 2–6 weeks after fingerprinting, and plan around any visa or job deadline.
Can I do it without going in person?
No. Fingerprinting is mandatory and in person, at a DCI office or Huduma Centre. From abroad there is a separate designated process using local police/an embassy.
Why would my C24 be rejected?
Poor or incomplete prints, or a form printed incorrectly. Print the C24 exactly as issued and let the officer take the prints properly.
How long is the certificate valid?
One year. But many employers and embassies want one issued within the last 3–6 months, so time your application to the deadline.
I'm applying from abroad — how?
You take your fingerprints locally (a police station or approved agency) and submit through the DCI diaspora process. Start early; it takes longer.
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