This archive report was first published on 19 August 2021.
On August 19, 2021, a petition was presented in Parliament seeking to abolish the police clearance certificate as a requirement during job applications.
The petitioner, Susan Wangui of Kirinyaga County, argues that the requirement infringes on one's constitutional right and prevents individuals with past criminal records from applying for government jobs until after a 20-year period.
However, Wangui believes that scrapping the requirement would act as an avenue for rehabilitation and encourage diversity in the job market.
According to National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, the petitioner views this requirement as discriminatory, as most employers may use the Police Clearance Certificate as a basis for disqualifying job seekers having criminal records irrespective of their academic and other qualifications.
Muturi referred the matter to the departmental committee on Administration and National Security to consider the petition and report its findings to the House.
The petition also provided reference to Indiana in the USA and the United Kingdom, where select non-violent felonies are scrapped from the offenders' records after a few years.
Currently, job seekers are required to provide a number of certificates, including the police clearance, Higher Education Loans Board Compliance Certificate, Tax Compliance Certificate, Credit Reference Bureau Certificate, and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Certificate, as a requirement during job applications.
