Nairobi, Kenya — Huduma Kenya has clarified that the newly announced 24-hour turnaround time for Certificate of Good Conduct applications only applies to applications submitted through the new instant processing system.
The clarification comes after an applicant raised concerns about waiting for approximately one month despite the government’s announcement that Certificate of Good Conduct applications could now be processed within a day.
According to Huduma Kenya, applicants who submitted their applications before the new system was introduced will still need to wait for their applications to be processed. They have been advised to regularly check their eCitizen accounts for updates on the status of their applications.
New biometric system aims to speed up processing
The faster processing system is linked to the Multi-Biometric Identification System, which was launched by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on July 23, 2026.
The system integrates multiple biometric identification technologies, including fingerprint, palmprint and facial recognition, to help improve the identification and verification process.
Under optimal conditions, the new system is expected to reduce the processing time for Certificates of Good Conduct from approximately 14 days to about one day.
Existing applicants may still face delays
The clarification means that applicants who applied before the instant processing system became operational should not necessarily expect their certificates within 24 hours.
Instead, their applications remain subject to the processing timelines applicable when they were submitted.
Applicants waiting for their certificates are therefore encouraged to monitor their eCitizen accounts rather than submitting another application simply because their earlier application has taken longer than 24 hours.
What applicants should know
The 24-hour processing timeline should be understood as applying to new applications processed through the instant system, rather than as a blanket deadline for every pending Certificate of Good Conduct application.
The introduction of the Multi-Biometric Identification System is nevertheless expected to significantly improve the efficiency of the service by allowing biometric information to be checked using several identification methods.
For Kenyans who need Certificates of Good Conduct for employment, travel, immigration or other official purposes, the new system could eventually mean shorter waiting times once it operates consistently under optimal conditions.
Key takeaway: If you applied before the new instant processing system was rolled out, the 24-hour timeline does not automatically apply to your application. Continue checking your eCitizen account for updates.
