- Artificial Intelligence is the use of machines to think like humans
- It can recognise large amounts of data very fast
Image: George Murage
The time taken to produce Hansard Reports in Parliament is expected to reduce by over 50 per cent once the Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is introduced.
The technology once in place, will ease the process of producing the reports while making them accurate and easily accessible.
This emerged during the 6th Hansard Association of Kenya Annual Conference in Naivasha which brought together Hansard reporters from Parliament and all the 47 county assemblies.
During the conference at Sawela Lodge, it emerged that county assemblies were poorly equipped and understaffed, a move that was affecting the production of the Hansard reports.
National Assembly Deputy Clerk Serah Kioko said there was a need to embrace Artificial Intelligence in parliamentary reporting.
She noted that use of the new technology would come in handy in reducing the time used in producing Hansard reports and making sure that they were accurate.
“Artificial Intelligence is here with us and we cannot ignore but embrace it as we move to reduce the time taken to produce these reports that are very crucial,” she said.
Addressing the press on the sidelines of the five-day workshop, Kioko said institutions like Judiciary and the National Land Commission relied a lot on the Hansard reports.
“Parliament is keenly looking at the introduction of Artificial Intelligence in its reporting and this will not in any way affect the workforce,” she said.
An official of the Society of Clerks at the Table in Kenyan Legislatures Denis Mutui decried lack of equipment and personnel in many county assemblies.
He said years after devolution came into force, counties had not invested in Hansard reporting in assemblies due to financial constraints, a move that had affected service delivery.
Mutui challenged counties to invest in live-streaming so that members of the public could get a chance to hear and view their elected leaders’ articulate issues in county assemblies.
“Despite the financial constraints, counties should invest in recording equipment and personnel as this will assist in production of better Hansard reports,” he said.
HAK President George Wanyoko said plans were underway to register the association so that it could be anchored in law thus making funding easier.
A member of the association Res Ndilai echoed similar sentiments adding that they were keen to embrace Artificial Intelligence in their reporting to ease their duties.