Inspector-General of Police Hilary Mutyambai on Thursday launched a digital Occurrence Book, that will replace the good old manual book.
According to the IG, the digital OB is in line with the government’s policy of digitizing services that are critical to service delivery to Kenyans and will help keep permanent records and “guarantee transparency and accountability in Police operations at the station level” across the country.
“We now have an electronic Occurrence Book which will be able to keep permanent records of all entries. The technology among other benefits ensures that all entries made are a permanent record that cannot be edited, thus guaranteeing transparency and accountability in Police operations at the station level.” the IG said.
The IG further stated that the digital entries will be monitored by Ward, County and Regional Commanders as well as all top commanders.
The digital occurrence book opens a new chapter in the history of policing in the country and will definitely provide a seamless process to complainants who record offenses with the police.
Before the digitization, a complainant had to keep a small piece of paper handed at the police station bearing the number and date when the incident was reported.
In the event that you lost the piece of paper and needed proof or recording the incident, it becomes another challenge altogether and often provided a loophole that greedy policemen took advantage of to seek bribes since someone had to physically go through the analogue book page by page.