[kictanet] Face-to-face link with MP at the touch of a button

[Cecilia Matanga]

Hear hear!

On 5/19/10, alice <alice at apc.org> wrote:
> We are getting there.
>
> Congratulations Hon. Rege
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> A conference hall fitted with a huge screen is all constituents will
> need to communicate with their MP.
>
> That is a reality for the people of Karachuonyo in Nyanza, who have
> embraced teleconferencing in a big way.
>
> To talk to their MP, Mr James Rege, all they need do is walk to the
> local office and book an appointment. Once an appointment has been
> secured, at the touch of a button, they will be talking to the MP.
>
> The technology comes at a time when the government seeks to reduce the
> costs incurred by Members of Parliament during their day-to-day duties.
>
> *Other duties*
>
> If the technology is embraced by all the constituencies, the MPs will
> efficiently be able to monitor their constituencies’ development without
> having to travel there. This will free the leaders for other duties such
> as attending parliamentary sessions.
>
> Mr Rege, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and
> Communication, said the technology will enable constituents to have a
> face-to-face conversation with their MP without having to travel to
> Nairobi, where the legislators spend most of their time in order to
> attend Parliament and other business.
>
> “When the facility is fully installed by the government in all
> constituencies, the Treasury will be able to cut the costs incurred by
> MPs by half. Many MPs travel to their constituencies four times a week,
> which costs the taxpayers a huge sum of money” he said.
>
> *Two trips*
>
> Mr Rege said that to instal the teleconference equipment, a constituency
> needs only Sh120,000. This, he added, is what an MP spends for two trips
> to his constituency on average.
>
> “Sometimes, an MP uses the amount on travelling to his constituency to
> attend an hour’s meeting. The amount saved can be used to assist in the
> construction of schools and upgrading roads, among other projects.”
>
> Mr Rege said that with the technology, he was able to attend to his
> constituents and follow up development without having to miss
> parliamentary proceedings.
>
> The TelePresence virtual meeting also allows the MP to communicate with
> the district and provincial administrators and hold live interactive
> meetings using the connectivity of the Internet.
>
> Mr Rege said the technology will ensure that information is not
> distorted, as well as providing a channel for instant feedback.
>
> The teleconference kit was installed on April 30 at the Rachuonyo
> Constituency Development offices by Smoothtel and Tandberg High Definition.
>
>
>
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-- 
Sent from my mobile device

Cecilia Matanga
Programme Officer
Africa i-Parliaments Action Plan
UNDESA
Nairobi - Kenya
Mobile        : +254-718568154
Telephone : +254-20-374 9892/3
Fax             : +254-20-374 9894