By Dr. Edris Omondi (Advocate)
(Strategic Thinker, Author, Motivational Speaker, Preacher and a Lawyer)
I am in the Coastal town of Mombasa for Easter. I get a friend to get me a vehicle for the ease of my movement. I realised I needed to renew my license, noticing a contingent of traffic police officer in Mombasa had been stopping literally all vehicles inspecting their compliance. I strolled into a small cybercafé tucked away in one of Bamburi dusty lanes. I had one mission: patch up my old, red-covered driving license that was slowly giving up on life. It was torn, weathered, and held together more by memory than material. I asked for some black sellotape—yes, the kind used to seal envelopes—to do some roadside first aid.
But then it hit me. When was the last time I actually renewed my driving license? I have been driving in my town actually oblivious of the last renewal!
I asked the cyber attendant if he could help me renew the same as he patched my license from the eCitizen portal. He smiled, the kind of smile that tells you something unexpected is coming. “When did you last renew this?” he asked.
My heart skipped. A few clicks later, we discovered the truth: my license had done two year of non-renewal! I was stunned. I had been driving all over the place for two years—with an expired document! It was a miracle; I did not get on the wrong side of the law as much as I failed to remit Caesar’s due. I thanked God for my ‘chi’ I escaped fines and interest which is a norm now, for such delays.
But what happened next was even more remarkable.
The cyber guy went ahead, retrieved my information, processed the renewal digitally, printed the new version, and laminated it. All in under 10 minutes!
I stood there, shocked—not because it happened, but because it happened that fast. In Kenya!
A Quiet Digital Revolution
In a country where many citizens have grown accustomed to bureaucracy, inefficiency, and the infamous phrase “hii file yako bado haijapatikana,” this was a refreshing surprise.
The eCitizen portal, an initiative of Kenya’s digital transformation agenda, has slowly begun to prove its worth. From driving licenses to business registrations and passport applications, Kenyans can now access several key government services from anywhere in the country—without middlemen, long queues, or shady “kitu kidogo” demands.
Why Digitization Matters
This experience got me thinking: what if every service in Kenya worked this well?
Here’s what widespread digital access can do:
Cut down corruption: When transactions are traceable, the space for bribery shrinks. No more gatekeepers hoarding your documents.
Increase efficiency: Time wasted in queues or chasing signatures could be redirected toward productive economic activity.
Enhance access for all: Whether you’re in Nairobi or Seme Sub County where I come from, internet connectivity becomes your passport to government services.
Success Stories to Learn From
Rwanda has digitized over 95% of its government services through the Irembo platform. Citizens there can register births, apply for permits, and renew licenses online—no need to travel or pay extra fees to the capital Kigali.
In Estonia, citizens can vote, pay taxes, and access healthcare entirely online. Their digital identity system is a global benchmark in e-governance.
India’s Aadhaar system links every citizen to a unique ID, streamlining access to welfare programs, banking, and subsidies—drastically reducing fraud.
Kenya’s Path Forward
If Kenya can replicate the simplicity and speed I experienced with my license renewal, we could radically transform how people interact with government. Imagine:
- An election in Kenya that is completely digitalized using Internet of Things.
- A digitized land registry to finally clean up title deed fraud
- Online health records that move with the patient
- Digital school admissions to eliminate corruption and confusion
- Police e-reporting systems to enhance security response and trust
From Miracles to Normalcy
My experience at that cyber should not feel miraculous—it should be routine. We are on the cusp of something great if we stay the course.
Digitizing consumer services may just be the best gift Kenya can give its citizens.
So, to whoever is listening—policy makers, county heads, national leaders—scale up what is working. Keep building. Keep connecting. Keep believing.
Because if one small café in Bamburi, Mombasa County can turn sellotape panic into a digital win, imagine what Kenya could look like if the whole country came online.
