Kenya’s Parliament goes Digital on the Orange Network
Telkom Kenya has announced an agreement to provide a digitization solution to all Kenyan Members of Parliament. The deal, sealed today by Telkom Kenya Chief Executive Officer Dominique Saint-Jean and the Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Kenneth Marende, will see the 222 elected MPs get connected electronically.
The agreement covers provision of laptops and internet everywhere connection. Internet everywhere allows access to internet anywhere on the Orange network using a USB modem and automatically selects the best available network ensuring that users have the best possible browsing experience wherever they are (i.e. EDGE/GPRS, Wifi, ADSL and LAN).
The bundled solution which was presented to the speaker of the National assembly Kenneth Marende and Hon. Eng.James Rege, chairperson, National Assembly communication committee at Parliament Buildings, will see the initial phase connect 16 members and eventually rollout to the rest of the members within the year.
“This partnership is another landmark in Telkom Kenya’s ongoing journey to deliver innovative, relevant solutions for Kenyan organisations in both the public and private sector,” said Mr. Dominique Saint-Jean, Telkom Kenya CEO. “Using technology to develop partnerships which enable people to achieve more is Telkom Kenya’s vision”
General Assembly speaker Mr Marende said the deal is a demonstration of how public-private partnerships can work. “ Hand in hand, public and private sector, we can deliver greater value to Kenyans, because whilst it will serve a public sector agenda, it is a business initiative, which means that it is sustainable financially.” He said the technology costs had been budgeted to ensure that by the end of this year, all members of parliament benefit from a streamlined and cost effective communications solution to serve their constituents better.
“The partnership we are announcing today is about more than laptops and internet connections. “Today we are kicking off a partnership that will transform the way that Members of Parliament work. We will be able to lead the way in demonstrating to the ordinary mwananchi the very real benefits of technology in enhancing productivity,” said Eng. James Rege, the Chairman, National General Assembly Communication Committee and MP for Muhoroni.
While ensuring law makers are connected to the net is ultimately a good thing for the country, the jury is still out on weather the less tech savvy Members of Parliament will use the computers and weather the tech savvy Members that already have laptops and internet access will need this service.
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