The Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), also known as the certificate of good conduct, is a vital document that every Kenyan requires, particularly when applying for key government services.According to the Criminal Records Office (CRO), the document serves as a vetting mechanism to ensure that a citizen or non-citizen has a clean criminal record.It is now a requirement for almost all government jobs, and most private organizations have adopted the same requirement for job applicants.The government agency tasked with issuing the document, which is renewed yearly at a cost of Ksh.1,050, is the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).Here is a quick guide to obtaining the document on the e-Citizen portal for both adults and those under the age of 18.- For children, only an original birth certificate and copies are required, whereas adults must provide an original ID and copies.- If you are a new user, you must create an account; if you already have one, simply log in.- Following that, select the link from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations menu.Select the ‘create an application’ menu.- For those over the age of 18, choose the Police Clearance Certificate Application (Adult) and apply.- Fill out the required information (the area you choose is where your fingerprints will be taken).- Choose your preferred payment method (M-Pesa or bank account)- Once you’ve made your payment and received confirmation on your mobile device, click the ‘complete’ icon to finish your application.- Download the C24 form and two copies of the payment receipt to present when your fingerprints are taken.- After successfully applying, the certificate takes two weeks to one month to arrive.- You can download the notification from your computer or smartphone once it appears on the portal.Kenyans could previously access the PCC document at DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road or Huduma centers across the country.Since the e-Citizen portal has automated many government services, the agency now states that the PCC can only be downloaded through the platform.ALSO READ:The DCI explains that this is to reaffirm the authenticity of the certificates and to prevent fraudsters posing as DCI agents from granting access to unsuspecting Kenyans who want to bypass protocol.In this regard, the DCI notes that only the e-Citizen platform makes a genuine copy of the PCC available to all Kenyans.Applicants are therefore cautioned against falling victim to scams claiming to send copies to their emails or directing them to DCI offices to pick up the forms.
