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From: Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke>
To: elizaslider@yahoo.com
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Wed, May 19, 2010 2:56:13 PM
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Face-to-face link with MP at the touch of a button

Congrats Hon. (...but do I say!!). Certainly, the way to go. Would be nice to do some research around it e.g. how does it change the governnace dynamics? Who participates and who does not? Why? How does accountability and transparency play out?  etc etc

I've had a feel of CISCO's telepresence at their office - great experience! Congrats once again.

-----Original Message-----
From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of alice
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 12:35 PM
To: Edith Adera
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: [kictanet] Face-to-face link with MP at the touch of a button

We are getting there.

Congratulations Hon. Rege

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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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