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ICT can strengthen devolution and deliver progress

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Live streaming either to county websites or to public social media platforms such as Facebook effectively creates a County’s own TV channel. FILE PHOTO | NMG

It was author and speech writer for five US Presidents James Humes who said, “The art of communication is the language of leadership”. 

If such a powerful adage applies to one of the world’s most mature democracies, how much more should it be recognised in the context of Kenya’s relatively fledgling democracy?

In many ways Kenya has readily embraced this concept, albeit more in letter than deed. The Constitution makes unequivocal provision regarding the need for public communication and access to information.

Like many countries this has at least led to the live broadcast of parliamentary proceedings. The mainstream media also play an outstanding role in disseminating and analysing our national politics.

But it is within our increasingly important devolution structure where only limited progress has been made, this despite the capture of the communication imperative in the 2012 County Governments Act.

Section 95 compels Counties to establish mechanisms to facilitate public communication and access to information in the form of media with the widest public outreach. This may include electronic and digital media such as setting up television stations, ICT centres and websites.

With already over long ‘to-do’ lists, perhaps the lack of attention to communication as a critical piece in the leadership jigsaw understandably sits close to bottom of most Governor’s priorities.

More likely is the probable perception that setting up effective communication mechanisms is too much of a complex and expensive undertaking.
The truth is that technology advances have substantially reduced the costs.

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Systems now exist whereby remote controlled multi camera coverage and broadcast of assembly proceedings can be controlled by a single engineer using not much more than a lap top.

Live streaming either to county websites or to public social media platforms such as Facebook or You Tube, effectively creates a County’s own TV channel. 

Since proceedings are also automatically recorded, such systems also allow for the archiving and instant recall of previous contributions from assembly members, debates and the motions adopted.

Apart from raising the media visibility of Governors and County leadership, other telepresence or video conferencing facilities can also be used to establish enhanced communication directly with constituents.

Working at the cutting edge of these technologies are companies like Pixsel Africa who will be launching a specialized county broadcast services package at the devolution conference in Kakamega to make all these benefits available in Kenya.

Increased open Government and bringing leadership and services closer to Mwananchi portends great things for Kenya. Communication is a key element in achieving this, and technology can play a major role in the development of our governance, politics and democracy.

Clive Haines, Head of business development at Pixsel, a media firm.