Kenya Launches Advanced Biometric Identification System, Cuts Police Clearance Processing to 24 Hours

​By Greenspan Dulo 

July 23, 2026

Kenya has taken a major step in modernising its security and criminal justice systems following the launch of the Multi-Biometric Identification System (MBIS–ABIS Version 5) and the official handover of an international accreditation certificate to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ (DCI) Forensic Evidence Management Unit (FEMU).

Speaking during the launch at the DCI Headquarters on Thursday, Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kipchumba Murkomen described the milestone as a significant shift from traditional policing to a modern, science-driven and technology-powered justice system.

Murkomen announced that the new biometric platform will dramatically improve service delivery by reducing the processing time for Police Clearance Certificates from up to 14 days to just 24 hours. The upgraded system also expands Kenya’s biometric records capacity from 2 million to 10 million records while increasing daily fingerprint searches from 4,500 to 20,000.

The Interior CS said the government plans to roll out biometric enrolment services to police stations across the country, enabling faster investigations and bringing services closer to citizens.

In another major achievement, Kenya’s Forensic Evidence Management Unit received international accreditation from the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), making it the first internationally accredited forensic evidence management unit in Africa.

Murkomen said the accreditation guarantees that forensic evidence will now be collected, stored and managed according to globally recognised standards, strengthening criminal investigations, improving prosecutions and enhancing public confidence in the justice system.

He noted that the government is working towards integrating the new biometric system with the National Registration Bureau, the Judiciary, Immigration Department and INTERPOL through the necessary legal and policy frameworks. The integration is expected to enhance identity verification, intelligence sharing and cross-border crime investigations.

The Cabinet Secretary added that Kenya is also pursuing international accreditation for other forensic units, including Chemistry, Biology, Bomb Disposal, and Cyber and Digital Forensics, as part of broader reforms aimed at professionalising the National Police Service.

Murkomen reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in technology, innovation and institutional reforms to improve security, uphold the rule of law and deliver faster, transparent and citizen-centred policing.

He thanked the National Police Service, the DCI, development partners including ANAB and ICITAP, and all stakeholders involved in the reforms, saying the transformation marks only the beginning of Kenya’s journey towards a fully modern, accountable and technology-driven security system.


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