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"content": "close to them – the MCAs – are not at par. We are in a digital or global village and the reason that we are putting these things up is because devolution is a new phenomenon in this country and so, we are learning along the way. Every county has something special to show that comes from the area on opportunities. This can be enhanced by making sure that these opportunities are put online. I am happy to hear that some counties already have working websites. We cannot overemphasize the need to be digitized. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the role of the MCA or waheshimiwa, as they are called today, is really widened. It is not the traditional councilor role that was there in the former Constitution. This is because it not only includes representation, but also legislation. Some of these counties are very vast and there is a problem when it comes to sharing of information, with the geographical hindrances that exist in infrastructure and transport system. The Information Communication Technology (ICT) can make this very easy because when something is posted on the website or even the social media, you can get information. You can access something on Twitter so to say before it even hits the mainstream media. If you look at the Parliament Website today, and I am a frequent visitor of it, especially on the operations of the Senate, you will see that the HANSARD reports, first of all, are put up very promptly. I am able to see if I quoted something and it was out of context or the HANSARD did not pick it very well. I am able to correct it immediately because it is put up before we even get the hand-delivered HANSARD. If this can be done for the counties, we can be sure that efficiency will be enhanced. It will be very effective in terms of following these conversations and seeing what is in the Order Papers of the counties and what the emerging issues are. This will enable us to operationalize the implementation of Article 35, which states clearly that every citizen has the right to information. That right must be protected by everyone from the county assemblies to this Senate, to ensure that public participation, which is enshrined in the Constitution, is enhanced. Let people contribute to what is being discussed in the precincts of the county assemblies. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as I support, I would like to urge that we should not only have the county assemblies allocated funds to make sure that they are digital, we must also have funds allocated for constant and periodical appraisal because technology is not static. Technology is very dynamic and what is trending today may not be trending in the next one year. If we look at how far we have come, especially with the new media, you will see that it has evolved over time. People can have conversations--- Even as we look at the operations of this House, we must have a very constant and stable relationship with the counties. But this can also be enhanced by having proper media centres, as it has been proposed. Because, then, we can even have Skype meetings and video conferencing, because our schedule is very tight and owing to the numbers in this House, we may not be able to be everywhere every time. So, if they the counties had proper media centres, we would be able to have these conversations and to enhance the relationship between the Senate as the protector of counties and the counties themselves. As I finish, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this right also – I know it has been a hot issue, especially on the way the media has been treated in the Lower House – I really would hope that the county assemblies would embrace how the Senate has treated the media, because even if we are working with what we have as a makeshift place, we have The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}