The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has admitted that it is facing a huge backlog of Police Clearance Certificate applications.
DCI in a statement on Saturday said the backlog has been occasioned by a recent APFIS system downtime.
The downtime was resolved in September 2023, but at the time, it left a backlog of over 60,000 police clearance applications.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations wishes to inform members of the public that we are currently having a huge backlog of Police Clearance Certificate applications stretching back to April this year as a result of APFIS system downtime,” DCI said in part of the statement.
“The breakdown issue was resolved in September 2023 leaving a backlog of over 600,000 police clearance applications,” it added.
The agency says it receives daily applications ranging between 13,000 and 15,000, aside from the backlog.
However, DCI has noted that the Principal Criminal Registrar has taken steps aimed at dealing with the backlog.
The actions include incorporating both automated and manual processing of the applications.
“Further, the Forensic Fingerprint Identification Bureau (FFIB) officers are working round the clock, including on Saturdays and Sundays to increase the throughput,” DCI said.
Special consideration
In addition, the agency noted that it is processing the clearance certificates also known as Certificates of Good Conduct on a first in first out basis with special consideration to needy cases like overseas medical treatment, scholarships and booked flights.
“To ensure such needy cases and all delayed cases are promptly addressed, our officer at the DCI headquarters and Huduma Centres (DCI desks) countrywide are sorting out and separately packaging such requests before submitting them for urgent processing,” said the agency.
Following the measures put in place, DCI says it has been able to reduce the pile up from 635,000 to 390,778 applications we at November 10, 2023.
It is now asking members of the public to be patience as the matter is addressed.
The DCI further said the Principal Criminal Registrar is working on clearing the remaining backlog soonest “thereby realising a two-week wait time by February 2024.”
The agency also affirmed its commitment to continue executing its mandate effectively and expeditiously in a responsive and accountable manner.
