Murang’a:Residents seeking Police Clearance Certificates in Murang’a County can now complete the application process rapidly due to the installation of a live-capture machine at the Murang’a Huduma Centre.
According to Kenya News Agency, the new system, introduced by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), digitally records applicants’ fingerprints and links this biometric data to their e-Citizen applications. This advancement allows for swift generation of the certificates.
Murang’a Huduma Centre Branch Manager John Maina highlighted that the technology has significantly reduced the processing time for the certificates, eliminating the lengthy waiting periods previously faced by applicants. The updated process now takes between two and five minutes.
During its first week of operation, approximately 150 people accessed the service, indicating a strong demand for faster government services. Applicants must pay a fee of Sh1,050 through their e-Citizen accounts before visiting the centre for biometric capture. Once the fingerprints are captured, the certificate is accessible through their e-Citizen accounts.
Maina encouraged residents requiring Police Clearance Certificates for employment, travel, immigration, and other official purposes to take advantage of the service, which has been made more convenient by the live-capture system. This initiative is part of the Government’s effort to digitize public services, with e-Citizen serving as a central platform for accessing various government services.
Residents who have utilized the system have expressed satisfaction with the reduced processing time. Elsy Wamithi noted the fingerprint capture was quick, and Victor Kiplangat reported completing the entire process, including payment and accessing the certificate, in about five minutes.
Maina also cautioned young people against engaging in criminal activities, as having a criminal record could impede their ability to obtain Police Clearance Certificates when needed for official reasons. He urged them to make responsible choices to avoid jeopardizing future opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Huduma Centre holds around 1,700 uncollected national identity cards. Maina urged residents who have received notifications that their identity cards are ready to visit the centre for collection, emphasizing that timely collection would facilitate access to various government services without unnecessary delays.
