By Dan Muhuni
Technology remains at the heart of human progress. Mankind has evolved from one age of technology to another with each age opening new vistas of communication, which has contributed spectacularly to shrinking of distances and spreading of the ideas of democracy, freedom and liberty of people.
While the industrial age commencing with the invention of new means of production diminished distance and brought people and societies across the globe closer together, the cost of doing so remained high. Evolution of what is called ‘the network age’ with the introduction of computers and internet has brought about a paradigm shift in technology application for “unprecedented networking and knowledge opportunities” at a cost which is incredibly small and hitherto not even dreamt of. It is appropriately said that communication revolution driven by information technology is attempting to make the ‘impossible of yesterday’ the ‘possible of today.’ This has been made into reality to the organizations that have adopted information communication technology as their backbone especially in the banking sector where we have seen banks register big profits with the major contributor to this is non other than ICT.
Information technology and the technological innovations that have followed heralding an era of global-information-networking is in the process of opening a window in the social space which is far more valuable in the liberal democratic environment of today. The central challenge and the perennial quest since the idea of democracy dawned in the minds of humans have been to make people feel a sensation of participation in the representative bodies where, the people whom they elect discharge their functions in their name. Ideas and institutional mechanisms for technological application remain at, and the root of all attempts, to bring people and Parliament closer together. Information and communication technologies have raised hopes of responding to that central challenge effectively.
Parliaments as central institutions of democracy provide a crucial bills for debate, discussion and above all for policy formulation and scrutiny of executive functioning. Essentially, as institutions representing the will of the people, they need to be closer to them articulating their interests and acting as mirrors of society as a whole. Every innovation within these representative bodies is an attempt to further the cause of democracy. Information communication technology can be a tremendous force for human development for all those Connected- by providing information, enabling empowerment and raising productivity.”
The new information and communication technologies have thrown up several new possibilities for forging instant linkages between the electorate and their representatives, which can make representative democracy more effective. Networking communication through e-mail, computer facilitated audio and video conferencing, online consultations, etc., which forms a part of the larger concept of e-governance, is being gradually adopted by Parliaments in their day-to-day functioning.
Parliaments are a repository and reservoir of information, which are of strategic and seminal significance for people, the body politic and society at large. Information has always been a critical input for effective decision-making. It acquires manifold significance in a democratic society, which in our time is striving for giving the right to information to the people. Legislatures, as people’s institutions, have to work in a setting where there is free-flow of information for arriving at decisions and assessing policies which aim at fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people. Success of a parliamentary democracy, therefore, largely depends upon efficient multi-directional flow of information. Application of information and communication technologies would be of immense help for dissemination of such information.
It is worthwhile to also note that rapid strides in communication and information technology and convergence of various such disciplines have opened up newer vistas of information-sharing. It has made access to various kinds of data easier. Members of Parliament in order to discharge their responsibilities effectively need to have objective up-to-date and authentic information. At the same time, a proper exchange of information between the Government and the Members of Parliament and vice-versa is also vital for democracy. And this may be better facilitated by harnessing these new technologies for sharing and exchange of information between the executive and the legislature.
Computerization and application of information and communication technologies in parliamentary bodies is part of the modernization efforts of Parliament not only in Kenya but across the world. According to the speaker of the national assembly Francis Ole Kaparo parliament should make more use of information and communication technologies to increase the accessibility and transparency of Parliament. Later before our parliament went online there was concern amongst the public and the members that the House appeared remote and that it does not respond as well as it should to the public. Normally, public perception about Parliament is formed from a distance, through correspondence and reports of its proceedings. There is a noticeable disenchantment amongst the people towards parliamentary institutions which political scientists have attributed mainly to ‘a crisis of political communication.’ In fact, it is suggested that its modernization, among other things, by application of information and communication technologies could reverse the public perception about decline of Parliament.
The Kenyan Parliament representing millions of strong population of the Kenya has remained on the forefront in embracing this technology. Parliament has made concerted efforts to adopt and internalize these new technological tools in order to take Parliament closer to the people. The computerization efforts in parliament are broadly focused in three areas. Firstly, to computerize the existing parliamentary activities within the Secretariat and effectively manage the information it is receiving on a day-to-day basis in order to improve the service while saving on time and effort. Secondly, to effectively disseminate information generated by Parliament to the wider public and society through internet. And thirdly, for information gathering so as to make up-to-date and accurate information available for use of members for their meaningful participation in the House.
