Ideas & Debate

ICT can strengthen devolved governance structure

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Delegates queue to register at Amalemba Primary School for the ongoing devolution conference in Kakamega County, April 23, 2018. 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. Our constitution makes unequivocal provision regarding the need for public communication and access to information.

Like many countries around the world, this has at least led to the live broadcast of parliamentary proceedings, where Kenyans can gauge their MP’s performance and follow debates verbatim.

The mainstream media also play an outstanding role in disseminating and analysing our national politics.

But it is within our increasingly important devolution structure – our 47 county governments – 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 in the county.

This may include electronic and digital media, such as setting up television stations, information communication technology centres and websites.

Complex undertaking
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 governors' priorities.

More likely is the probable perception that setting up effective communication mechanisms as envisaged under the Act is too much of a complex and expensive undertaking.

The truth is that technology advances have substantially reduced the cost involved in what hitherto would have required significant investment in media production and broadcast equipment, and the personnel required to run them.

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 laptop.

When combined with the latest conference audio consoles that can even facilitate electronic voting, a sophisticated legislative assembly management system comparable with those used by some of the major parliaments and congresses around the world, this soon becomes a viable option even for county level assemblies.

Live streaming this content either to county websites or to public social media platforms such as Facebook or YouTube, effectively creates a county’s own TV channel, whilst at the same time providing access to localised events and stories to mainstream national broadcasters.

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.

Such proactive use of technology would not only improve local community engagement but also help governors to use their time more efficiently while driving accountability.

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Clive Haines is head of business development at Pixsel, a media firm