As the government gears towards digitising all its services, members of the public have been encouraged to take advantage of the Electronic Power of Mercy Petitions Management Information System, Epompmis, aimed at enhancing transparency for the petition process of convicted offenders.
The Power of Mercy Advisory Committee (POMAC) under Secretary Macharia Njinu, speaking in Nanyuki town Monday, during a stakeholders’ sensitization forum about the Epompmis, said the government seeks to ensure that those seeking presidential pardon are given a second chance in life after they have reformed without bias.
“People are not using this online system that automates the end-to-end user petition process because they are not aware of it. I want you to be good ambassadors in your areas by ensuring this information gets to the people. We are going paperless, and everyone can apply,” said Njinu.
The Under Secretary revealed that with the power of mercy online system, going forward, it would be easy for convicted offenders to apply their petition, and through their pardon offers, members of the public or their representatives can track the petition process and update information from various stakeholders.
Njinu said that the system, which was launched in April 2022, has since been integrated into the e-Citizen portal and can be accessed through epmis.powerofmercy.go.ke.
Laikipia County Commissioner, Joseph Kanyiri, urged residents not to victimise convicted offenders after they have been granted power of mercy by the President since they are deemed to have reformed.
The government only releases prisoners who would not cause any harm to the community, he added.
“When convicted offenders have been released, people tend to look at the negative side of the crimes they committed; they are our brothers and sisters, and they should not be stigmatised since they have served their jail term and reformed,” urged Kanyiri.
The county commissioner further pointed out that those released always undergo scrutiny from the POMAC before they are presented to the President to be pardoned for their crimes.
Kanyiri, however, noted that the power of mercy was not a must for prisoners to be granted freedom but encouraged people to apply on behalf of their relatives who had been convicted for being on the wrong side of the law.
Other stakeholders linked with the ePOMPMIS system to dispense justice to convicted offenders include the Kenya Prison Service, Probation, aftercare services, and the judiciary.
By Muturi Mwangi
