The power of mercy is a constitutional prerogative that allows the President of Kenya to grant pardon, reprieve or remission to any person convicted of any offence. The Power of Mercy Advisory Committee (POMAC) is the body that advises the President on the exercise of this power, based on the petitions received from eligible persons. However, the petition process has been faced with several challenges, such as delays, inefficiencies, lack of transparency and accountability, and high costs. To address these issues, POMAC has partnered with the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Authority to launch an online Power of Mercy Petitions Management Information System (ePOMPMIS).
The ePOMPMIS is a web-based system that enables petitioners, prison officers, POMAC members and other stakeholders to access and manage the petitions process online. The system is hosted on the e-citizen platform, which is the official digital service portal for the Government of Kenya. The system can be accessed through the Power of Mercy website.
The ePOMPMIS has several benefits for both the petitioners and the POMAC. For the petitioners, the system provides a convenient and secure way to submit their petitions online, without having to travel or incur any expenses. The system also allows them to track the status of their petitions and receive feedback from POMAC.
For the POMAC, the system enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of their work by automating and streamlining the petition process. The system also improves the transparency and accountability of their operations by providing real-time data and reports on the petitions received, processed and recommended. The system also facilitates collaboration and communication among POMAC members and other stakeholders involved in the process.
The ePOMPMIS was officially launched by the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison on Wednesday, September 20th, 2023. The launch event was attended by several dignitaries, including the Attorney General and Chairman of POMAC, Justin Muturi, the CEO of POMAC, Dr. Lydia Muriuki, and the Deputy Director in charge of e-Government services at ICTA, Mary Kerema.
During his speech, Mr. Koskei praised POMAC for embracing digital transformation and aligning with the government’s vision of leveraging ICT for service delivery. He also urged the beneficiaries of the power of mercy to be responsible citizens and role models to others as they rejoin society.
AG Muturi also commended POMAC and ICTA for developing and implementing the ePOMPMIS, which he said will foster stronger reforms in the correctional services institutions. He revealed that since 2011, POMAC has recommended 19,125 reformed criminal offenders for pardon or remission by the President.
Dr. Muriuki highlighted the cost savings and time reduction that the ePOMPMIS will bring to POMAC. She said that previously, POMAC used to spend about 59 million shillings per year on traveling across the country to interview petitioners in 68 prisons. She also said that it used to take about six months to complete one cycle of interviews. With the ePOMPMIS, she said that these costs and time will be significantly reduced.
Ms. Kerema reiterated ICTA’s commitment to supporting government institutions in digitizing their services for improved service delivery. She said that ICTA has developed over 5,000 digital services so far and is not stopping. She also said that ICTA will continue to work with POMAC to ensure that the ePOMPMIS is user-friendly and accessible to all Kenyans.
The launch of ePOMPMIS is a milestone achievement for POMAC and ICTA in their quest to enhance service delivery through ICT. The system will not only benefit the petitioners and POMAC but also contribute to justice reform, human rights protection and social cohesion in Kenya.
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