APsDAILY NATION By CHARLES LWANGA 

Tuesday January 08,2019

All police officers have been ordered to undergo a compulsory six-month training on Information and Communication Technology.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said the training is aimed at equipping the officers with basic knowledge and skills to handle the newly launched automated information management system rolled-out across the country.

Speaking during the official launch of National Police Service Information Management System (IMS) at Karisa Maitha grounds in Kilifi County, Dr Matiang'i said the training will be implemented in partnership with the Ministry of ICT in order to improve service delivery.

REGISTRATION

“Today we start the actual digital migration since we want transparency in the police service. Our idea is to ensure we deliver President Uhuru Kenyatta’s vision and plan for us by ensuring services are digitised,” he said.

Dr Matiang’i, who was with his ICT counterpart, Mr Joe Mucheru, among other top government officers, said the automated system will improve transparency and professionalism in the service.

“This will also stop issues on favouritism in terms of promotion,” he said, adding that “the problem of missing files and occurrence books will be the issue of the past.”

The CS also directed a digital registration of all police officers in the newly launched system starting with Kilifi County, within a period of a month.

“The new IMS system will help officers apply for leave, fill forms for promotion online and track officers' movement using their cell phones,” he said.

Dr Matiang’i added that the Police Sacco will also be brought on board to help the officers apply for loans through their cell phones.

At the same time, he advised senior officers and commanders to mentor their juniors and ensure they have a good working relationship.

TRANSPARENT

Dr Matiang'i said the automation project is in line with Vision 2030 of ensuring that all government services are fully automated and digitised.

“We will have a digitised criminal record system so that there is no loss of files and documents and enable us work in a speedy and transparent way,” he added.

Mr Mucheru said the system will enable the government make follow-ups and monitor activities in police stations with ease.

“As enablers, we are working with other government departments such as health, agriculture, lands, among others, to improve services,” he said adding “we have fibre optic with a better 4G speed.”

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet, who also registered himself in the IMS, said they are focused on digitising the human resource, occurrence book and other police operations.

“This is a great day; it’s a historic day as it marks the commencement of digitising all our procedures and the way we do things in the society,” he said,adding: “Technology has advanced so much that you must be a very queer person if you do not have a phone.”

RECRUITMENT

The National Police Service Chief Executive Officer Vincent Onyango said the new system will help in recruitment exercise of police officers and speed up decision-making in a fair and transparent manner.

Kaloleni MP Paul Katana and Kilifi Woman Rep Gertrude Mbeyu lauded police officers for doing a good job maintaining security during the festive season.

“Although we have few rogue officers, they should not soil the name of the service since. There are many good and dedicated officers,” Mr Katana said.

Also present were Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho and his Information counterpart Jerome Ochieng’.