eCitizen marriage certificate and Certificate of Good Conduct

Two eCitizen services generate the bulk of our reader questions. The marriage certificate, because the paperwork is more complex than most couples expect, and the DCI Certificate of Good Conduct, because half of the country needs one for a job, visa, or promotion at any given moment. Both flow through eCitizen with payment on paybill 222222. Here is how each works end-to-end.

Part 1: Marriage certificate

The Marriage Act 2014 replaced the old regime-specific statutes. Every marriage in Kenya is now registered under one Act with five recognised categories: civil, Christian, customary, Islamic, and Hindu. Each category has its own pre-marriage procedure, but the online registration and certificate issue is the same.

Civil marriage (Registrar of Marriages)

1. Log in at accounts.ecitizen.go.ke.
2. Select Civil Registration Services then Register a Marriage.
3. Choose Civil Marriage.
4. Enter both parties' details (name, ID, KRA PIN, date of birth, county, occupation).
5. Provide two witnesses' details (each must be over 18 with a National ID).
6. Book the Notice of Marriage (21-day statutory waiting period, or apply for a Special Licence to waive).
7. Pay via 222222 with the invoice reference.
8. Return after 21 days for the ceremony at the Registrar's office. Witnesses must attend.
9. Certificate is issued to the eCitizen dashboard on the day of the ceremony.

Christian marriage

The church officiates the ceremony under its own liturgy. eCitizen handles the state registration.

1. The church files banns (public notice) for three consecutive Sundays before the ceremony, or applies for a Special Licence.
2. The pastor or priest is a licensed marriage officer under the Registrar-General.
3. Post-ceremony, either the couple or the church officiant registers the marriage on eCitizen with the ceremony date, church address, officiant details, and witness details.
4. Pay via 222222.
5. Certificate issued to dashboard.

Customary marriage

Registration is retrospective. The customary ceremonies (dowry, negotiations, blessings) proceed under community practice; the eCitizen registration converts that into a state-recognised certificate.

1. Both parties log in and complete the Customary Marriage application.
2. Provide two witnesses from each community plus a letter from the elders confirming the marriage.
3. Attend the Registrar's office in person with the witnesses and letter.
4. Pay via 222222.
5. Certificate issued.

Islamic and Hindu marriage

Islamic marriages are solemnised by a Kadhi under Sharia; Hindu marriages by a Hindu priest under the Marriage Act (Hindu Marriage Rules). Post-ceremony, the couple registers on eCitizen with the officiant's certification, pays via 222222, and the state certificate is issued.

Marriage fees (indicative)

• Civil marriage: KES 3,900 (unverified 2026; invoice on eCitizen is authoritative)
• Notice of Marriage: KES 600 (unverified 2026)
• Special Licence (waive 21-day notice): KES 10,000 (unverified 2026)
• Church, customary, Islamic, Hindu registration: variable, invoice on eCitizen is authoritative
• Certified copy of existing certificate: KES 200 (unverified 2026)

Part 2: Certificate of Good Conduct (DCI Police Clearance)

Issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. Common uses: pre-employment vetting, visa applications, adoption, senior appointments, professional licensing.

Applying

1. Log in at eCitizen. Select Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
2. Choose Apply for Police Clearance Certificate (Certificate of Good Conduct).
3. Fill personal details. Purpose of application (employment, visa, other). Country if visa.
4. Select a fingerprint capture centre (DCI HQ Mazingira, Huduma Centres, regional DCI offices).
5. Submit. Invoice reference generated.
6. Pay via M-PESA paybill 222222. Fee is KES 1,050 (unverified 2026; invoice authoritative).

Biometrics

1. Attend the selected centre with National ID and the payment invoice.
2. Fingerprints captured on the DCI biometric device.
3. The officer stamps and returns your invoice.

Certificate issue

Standard turnaround: 7 to 21 working days after fingerprinting. A clean record returns quickly. Any hit against the DCI database (even where the case was resolved) triggers a manual review that can add weeks.

• Ready certificates are downloadable from the eCitizen dashboard as digitally signed PDFs.
• Physical stamped copies are collectable from DCI Mazingira; some employers or embassies require the physical version.
• Validity: typically 6 months for the receiving institution.

Common issues

• Name mismatch between ID and application: fix at Civil Registration first.
• Old case flagged: attend DCI Mazingira in person with court documents proving disposition (acquittal, withdrawal, sentence completion).
• Certificate needed abroad: some embassies also require apostille or authentication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs. Factor in an extra 5 to 10 working days.

Related guides

• eCitizen invoice generation flow
• eCitizen invoice not generated: what to do
• eCitizen passport application walkthrough
• eCitizen birth certificate application
• Huduma Kenya services directory

Sources

1. Marriage Act, No. 4 of 2014.
2. eCitizen Civil Registration and DCI portals, accounts.ecitizen.go.ke, retrieved 26 August 2026.
3. Directorate of Criminal Investigations, dci.go.ke.
4. Fees marked unverified 2026; eCitizen invoice is authoritative.

FAQ