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"id": 1028282,
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"speaker_name": "Sen (Dr.) Zani",
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"content": "this Committee has done, to show what other countries are doing and how Kenya has been able to handle it. For example, the United Nations, the European Parliament, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, France, Estonia, Australia, Maldives, Poland, South Africa, Norway, and the United States of America; all of them have been in one way or another using these practices. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, by stating it this way, it gives us the confidence that we are on the right track. More importantly, we are not only setting the pace for understanding of COVID-19 and its effects, but also trying to mitigate for these particular factors ourselves. The issue of social distancing, being able to keep the space, security and safety and not infecting others are very critical. This is what the various procedures are meant to put into place. Fundamentally, we have the pros and cons of meeting virtually or through the hybrid system. I think I have mentioned a bit about the practice of standing to speak and how that is going to be handled. I think it is going to be handled by somebody sitting respectfully and being able to face their camera and say what they need to say. There is the issue of security and logistical concerns and hacking threats have to be minimized. The report advocates that they should be. People are moving to forums where we can have access to round the clock technical support, where we can ensure that the proceedings are safe and can be conducted well, in such a way that people can understand what is happening. The hybrid system that we have used, even though it seemed a bit complicated initially, we had the Speaker sometimes calling somebody from the other Chamber and they have to rush to this Chamber. However, over time, that has been streamlined, and somebody from the other Chamber can indicate that they want to speak and they are given a chance. In advance, a person can know that their turn is coming and they can quickly come into the House. The hybrid model entails combining the current system as it now in that it allows the Senator that is not physically present in the House to participate remotely through a designated virtual forum. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there are specific amendments that are recommended in this Report in Appendix 1. Just to go through some of them quickly. One, is a Sitting of the Senate, where a physical sitting is not possible, as the Speaker might in consultation with the Senate Business Committee determine. That is formalizing that specific process. This will be both of the Plenary and also within the Committees. The Speaker may also issue guidelines for the conduct of a virtual sitting of the Senate or a meeting of the Committee of the Senate, including guidelines for the effective participation by persons with disabilities in a virtual sitting meeting. That consideration is very important, so that, for example, in a Parliament where we have a Member who is abled or gifted differently--- For example, if it is somebody who needs to use braille, that is availed to them. This is because these systems should not create further inequalities in any way. If I may refer to what has happened in the education sector, a big debate has ensued over time. This is because in many of the schools, for example, where virtual The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}