Parliaments and their committees are often criticized for being slow and inefficient. How can they improve their performance?
Digital technologies may very well be the answer. They are now widely used in Parliaments around the world. They enable MPs to communicate better, share information and collaborate with colleagues locally and across the globe. This allows them to deliver services faster and at lower cost.
MPs are able to participate in meetings remotely without having to leave their constituencies, saving time and money, whilst improving their productivity.
Virtual Parliament makes all this and more possible. It is an innovative technology product built specifically for Parliaments, to combine collaborative video and audio sessions, with all functions of a Parliament. It thus allows the MPs to take part in plenary sessions, committee sessions and even vote from the comfort of their constituency office.
Why Virtual Parliament?
The global Covid-19 pandemic resulted in measures to control the spread of the virus around the world. This included closure of many organisations and limitations on gatherings including parliaments.
In Kenya, the national assembly needed its own product customized to its needs and Virtual Parliament was born out of this. It is an innovative technology product built specifically for parliaments to combine collaborative video and audio sessions with the latest in content management and online presence.
Initially, it was built for temporary measures, to manage the pandemic. However, the technology was really embraced for the long term as it improved the way parliamentary systems work and can be used to preserve future crises.