How to Verify a Certificate of Good Conduct

To verify a Kenyan certificate of good conduct (police clearance certificate), confirm it with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) through its official verification service on eCitizen - not by looking at the paper. Then check when it was issued: the certificate reflects the record as of its issue date, so for a sensitive role you may want one that is recent.

Step 1: Verify the certificate with the DCI

1. Open the DCI's verification page on eCitizen: dci.ecitizen.go.ke/verify.
2. Choose Police Clearance Certificate.
3. Enter the application number printed on the certificate.
4. Check that what the service returns matches the certificate in front of you, including the name and the date of issue.

If the service does not confirm the certificate, or the details differ, treat it as unverified and ask the candidate to apply for a new one, which you can verify.

Step 2: Check how recent it is

A certificate records the position on the date it was issued - it says nothing about anything that happened afterwards. Employers commonly accept certificates issued within the last six to twelve months, and some public-sector adverts set their own limit. For roles handling cash, children, vulnerable people or security, ask for a recent one.

The candidate applies on eCitizen, pays the fee and has their fingerprints taken at a DCI office or Huduma Centre, so a new certificate takes weeks. Ask for it early in the process. Our guide to Chapter Six clearance certificates explains the application step by step.

Step 3: Decide fairly if there is a record

A certificate may show a record. Before deciding:

• Is it relevant? A conviction for fraud matters for a cashier; a minor offence years ago may not matter for most roles.
• How old is it? Consider the time that has passed and what the person has done since.
• What does the candidate say? Give them a chance to explain. Records can also be wrong.
• Record your reasons. Write down why you decided as you did.

A policy of rejecting anyone with any record is easy to apply, but it can exclude good candidates for no job-related reason. Decide case by case, and keep the information confidential.

When to ask for a certificate of good conduct

Ask only where the role justifies it. Common examples:

• Handling cash, payments or stock.
• Working with children, patients or vulnerable people.
• Security, driving and access to homes or customer premises.
• Public-sector jobs, where it is one of the Chapter Six clearances.
• Ride-hailing and delivery platforms, which commonly ask drivers for a police clearance certificate.

Do it lawfully

Criminal record information can seriously affect a person's life, so handle it with particular care. Tell the candidate what you will check and why, get their consent before you start, limit who can see the result, and delete it once you no longer need it, as the Data Protection Act 2019 requires. Use our background check consent form, and see how to run a legal background check in Kenya.

How Cazini helps

Cazini runs a national criminal record check with the candidate's consent - usually within about one working day - alongside identity, KRA PIN, education and employment checks, with every result in one report. See background checks.

Sources

• DCI certificate verification on eCitizen
• eCitizen
• Data Protection Act, 2019 (PDF)

Frequently asked questions

How do I verify a certificate of good conduct in Kenya?+

Use the DCI's verification service on eCitizen (dci.ecitizen.go.ke/verify), choose the police clearance certificate, and enter the application number printed on the certificate. A genuine certificate returns a confirmation. Do not rely on how the paper looks.

How long is a certificate of good conduct valid?+

The information on a certificate is correct as of the date it was issued. There is no fixed expiry for every purpose, but employers commonly ask for one issued within the last six to twelve months, and some adverts specify their own limit.

Is a certificate of good conduct the same as a criminal background check?+

It is Kenya's official criminal record clearance, issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations after fingerprinting. A background-check provider's criminal record check is a separate service; both should be run only with the candidate's consent.

Can I reject a candidate because of a criminal record?+

Consider whether the record is relevant to the job, how old it is, and the candidate's explanation. A blanket rejection of anyone with any record can be unfair. Decide case by case and record your reasons.