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{
    "id": 1069864,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1069864/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 54,
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    "content": "input on the same. During its sitting, the Managing Director of Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. Naim Bilal appeared before the Committee on Friday, 9th October 2020 in English Point Hotel, Mombasa and made presentations on the current status of parliamentary broadcasts and the possible areas of collaboration towards the realization of an independent parliamentary TV channel and radio station. Hon. Speaker arising from the foregoing findings, the Committee made the following observations: 1. In line with the provisions of the Constitution, the Parliamentary Service Act, 2019 and the PSC Strategic Plan there is a need for Parliament to establish its own TV broadcasting channels and radio with a countrywide reach to air uninterrupted proceedings of the plenary and committee meetings among other productions. 2. Two Signet channels ( Bunge TV and Senate TV channels) are available for use by Parliament. The two channels currently have a limited reach and only broadcast proceedings in Nairobi and its environs but have a capacity to offer coverage countrywide. 3. That the provisions of the Constitution, the Parliamentary Service Act, 2019, and the Public Finance Management Act among others, will enable Parliament to establish its own TV and radio. Existing contracts between the Parliamentary Service Commission and the KBC on the live coverage proceedings of Parliament only covers plenary proceedings with limited time allocated – 12 hours per week for live coverage of both the Senate and the National Assembly. The contract does not cover broadcast of proceedings of Committee meetings. You can see how much limited time we have to get proper coverage. Another observation is that the PBU needs modern equipment to roll out operational parliamentary TV channels. Currently, the PBU has only one staff while the rest of the staff members are employees of KBC, the contracted broadcast service provider. In Kenya, there are only two licensed broadcast signal distributers who are common carriers. One is called Signet, owned by the KBC; and the other one is PANG, which is privately owned by African Network Group. In terms of coverage, Signet has a national coverage while PANG covers clusters of urban areas. There is existing material archived by the PBU, which can be rebroadcasted through various programmes. Creativity and partnership with other jurisdictions will enhance the production of programmes to diversify the content for the channels. There is a need to come up with a legal framework under the PSC Act, 2019 to provide for the establishment of the proposed special purpose vehicle. This means we need to create a legal framework that will enable us to have these channels functionalised. That is something which can be done by this House. The NG-CDF Board is ready to partner with parliament in the utilising the broadcasting channels to communicate information regarding its mandate and programmes. Finally, the Committee recommends that within six months upon the adoption of this Report by the House: - (i) the PSC, in collaboration with the KBC, establishes a short-term broadcasting outfit where the Corporation will provide technical support, equipment, production and staff while the PSC will provide some equipment and skeleton staff. (ii) the PSC reviews the existing contract with KBC to take into account the additional proposed broadcasting services. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}