Adopt tech to enhance professionalism, parliamentary reporters told

Parliamentary reporters have been urged to adopt technology to strengthen their professionalism and safeguard the integrity of records in a rapidly evolving legislative environment.

The call came during the 8th Annual Conference of the Hansard Association of Kenya (HAK) in Kisumu.

The week-long conference has brought together hansard professionals from the Parliament of Kenya, county assemblies, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), and counterparts from Uganda, Tanzania and other African countries under the theme “The Hansard: Milestones, Gains and Impact.”

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Shollei said hansard officers remain critical custodians of Kenya’s democratic history through their role in documenting parliamentary debates and proceedings.

She traced Kenya’s parliamentary evolution from independence in 1963 to the 2010 Constitution that introduced devolution, noting that hansard has remained a constant pillar in preserving legislative memory.

“At Independence, Kenya inherited a parliamentary system grounded in the Westminster tradition. Hansard even then played a critical role in documenting foundational debates that shaped our nation,” she said.

Shollei spoke during the opening ceremony on Monday.

She noted that devolution expanded demand for professional reporting services across all 47 county assemblies.

She said Hansard has evolved from manual transcription to digital recording and real-time reporting, improving transparency, accountability and public access to parliamentary proceedings.

Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye described hansard as the “institutional memory of Parliament” and called for greater investment in technology, training and staff welfare.

He said Artificial Intelligence offers both opportunities and challenges, noting that while AI can enhance speed and efficiency, human judgment remains essential in interpreting context, tone and intent.

He also highlighted challenges such as multilingual debates, including Sheng and code-switching, urging the development of clear standards to ensure accurate reporting.

Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly Serah Kioko said hansard sits at the intersection of language, law, politics and technology, making it one of the most demanding parliamentary functions.

She said that while technology is transforming reporting, human oversight remains vital in preserving accuracy and nuance.

“A machine may identify words, but a trained hansard officer understands meaning and parliamentary context,” she said.

The conference is also focusing on multilingualism, accessibility, public participation, staff welfare and harmonisation of reporting standards across legislatures, with delegates encouraged to deepen regional cooperation and share best practices across Africa.