Kenya Cuts Police Clearance Wait to 24 Hours as New Forensic Technology Boosts Crime Investigations
By Peace Muthoka
NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyans will soon receive police clearance certificates within 24 hours instead of waiting up to two weeks following the launch of a next-generation biometric identification system and Africa’s first internationally accredited forensic evidence management unit.
The landmark reforms, unveiled on Thursday at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters, are expected to transform criminal investigations, strengthen the administration of justice and improve access to public services by harnessing advanced forensic technology.
Speaking during the handover of the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) certificate to the Forensic Evidence Management Unit (FEMU) and the launch of the Multi-Biometric Identification System (MBIS) – ABIS Version 5, Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kipchumba Murkomen said the twin milestones mark a new era in Kenya’s security sector.
Murkomen said the accreditation makes Kenya home to Africa’s first internationally accredited Forensic Evidence Management Unit, describing it as a major achievement that enhances the country’s credibility in forensic science and criminal investigations.
“Today’s handover puts Kenya on the global map as having Africa’s first internationally accredited Forensic Evidence Management Unit. This is a strategic national asset that will make our justice system stronger and give Kenyans more reason to trust it,” he said.
He noted that the milestone reflects the government’s continued investment in modernising the security sector under President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), saying a secure nation must be supported by modern institutions and technology.
“A prosperous and secure nation cannot be built on outdated systems. We must continuously invest in technology, innovation and institutional excellence to meet the evolving demands of public safety,” Murkomen said.
The Cabinet Secretary said the latest reforms directly respond to concerns repeatedly raised by Kenyans during the government’s Jukwaa la Usalama public engagement forums.
He noted that many citizens had expressed frustration over delays in obtaining police clearance certificates, slow investigations and weak management of forensic evidence, all of which had undermined confidence in the justice system.
“Today is our answer to those complaints,” he said.
At the centre of the reforms is the new Multi-Biometric Identification System, which significantly expands the country’s forensic identification capabilities.
The upgraded platform increases Kenya’s biometric database capacity from two million to 10 million records while raising daily fingerprint search capacity from 4,500 to 20,000 searches.
More importantly for ordinary Kenyans, the processing time for police clearance certificates will be reduced from up to 14 days to just 24 hours, allowing applicants to access the document much faster.
Murkomen said the government will also roll out biometric enrolment services in police stations across the country to speed up investigations and bring essential services closer to citizens.
He added that the government plans to integrate the new system with the National Registration Bureau, the Judiciary, the Department of Immigration Services and INTERPOL through the necessary legal and policy frameworks.
The integration will facilitate faster identity verification, secure data sharing, real-time intelligence exchange and more effective cross-border investigations, strengthening Kenya’s fight against crime.
Beyond improving service delivery, Murkomen said the accreditation of the Forensic Evidence Management Unit ensures that forensic evidence collected during investigations now meets internationally recognised standards.
He explained that the accreditation guarantees a secure chain of custody, ensuring evidence is properly collected, preserved, stored and presented in court, thereby strengthening prosecutions and improving the chances of successful convictions.
“It also sends the message that our forensic evidence is now benchmarked globally, and our investigators are better equipped than ever to hold offenders accountable,” he said.
Murkomen added that the achievement positions Kenya as a regional leader in forensic science while reinforcing the government’s resolve to modernise law enforcement through technology and innovation.
He said the reforms send a strong signal that Kenya’s investigative capabilities have become more sophisticated and that criminals will increasingly face a justice system equipped with world-class forensic tools.
With the new technology now in place, the government expects faster investigations, quicker public services and greater public confidence in the country’s criminal justice system, while cementing Kenya’s position as a leader in forensic science and digital policing in Africa.
