In a vast and harmonious kingdom, there lived a wise lion named Leo. He called for an assembly, addressing his subjects: "I believe it's time for reforms. Our rivers are polluted, our forests are shrinking, and some suffer while others thrive."
A wise old owl named Olivia suggested forming a Council of Animals, representing all species. They studied pollution, deforestation and inequality, proposing stricter environmental rules, equal access to necessities and educational programmes.
Impressed by their wisdom, Leo supported the reforms. The kingdom united behind these changes, and prosperity flourished for all animals.
No one can argue against the decision by the government to invest in digital solutions to make application processes more accessible to all citizens, including those in remote areas. Mobile enrolment units, online application portals and simplified procedures for all public services can help achieve this goal.
Last Friday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure met with top management of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations led by Director Mohamed Amin. They assessed the process and system constraints that have led to the paralysis of the production of Police Clearance Documents (Certificate of Good Conduct) over the last few months.
Though the system breakdown has been resolved, the CS discussed with the DCI team and agreed on a recovery plan to return normalcy in the provision of this critical service to members of the public.
Going ahead, the task remains to clear the backlog and upgrade the system from the current Automated Palm and Fingerprint Identification System to the more efficient Multi Biometric Identification System.
This development comes in the wake of the recent announcement that applicants no longer need to book fingerprinting dates on the e-citizen portal, but can select their preferred fingerprinting centres based on convenience.
Production of the documents had stalled for months affecting many applicants’ plans. Some applicants say they have been waiting for the documents for up to seven months.
The DCI is now rushing to clear the backlog same as the Department of Immigration which faced similar challenges of production. It is worth noting that the backlog that was at Immigration has been sorted and almost cleared due to Kindiki's intervention.
The Police Clearance Certificates are crucial for many who for instance need jobs and want to travel to some countries.
The primary purpose of the CGC is to enhance national security by allowing employers, immigration authorities and other relevant parties to assess the criminal history of individuals.
Obtaining a CGC has been a lengthy and frustrating process. Applicants often face bureaucratic hurdles, including long waiting times and unclear requirements, which can hinder their ability to secure job opportunities or travel abroad.
There have been instances of inaccurate data on CGCs, leading to wrongful denials of employment or travel opportunities. Ensuring the accuracy of the information on these certificates is paramount.
The move to get a master fingerprint digital system will help Kenyans in many ways because the government should work towards simplifying and expediting the CGC application process.
This should involve digitalising the process and providing clear guidelines to applicants. This has the potential to improve efficiency, transparency, security, and accessibility while reducing bureaucracy and costs.
They should also establish an appeals process for individuals who believe their CGC contains inaccurate information. This would help address issues of data accuracy and wrongful denials.
One of the most significant advantages of an MBIS is its ability to provide a more robust and secure means of verifying individuals' identities. By utilising multiple biometric markers, such as fingerprints, iris scans and facial recognition, it becomes exceedingly difficult for individuals to impersonate others, reducing identity theft and fraud.
Implementing an MBIS can significantly expedite the CGC application process. With the MBIS in place, the risk of fraudulent CGCs being issued, whether through bribery or other means, is greatly minimised. This promotes transparency and reduces opportunities for corruption.
To address concerns of accessibility, mobile enrolment units, and outreach programmes should be established to reach underserved populations.
Digitising the certificate of good conduct process would be a positive step for Kenya. It would make the process more efficient, secure and accessible, and it would help to protect the integrity of the system.
