Digital Transformation in the Parliamentary Context: An In-Depth Case Study of the Parliament of Kenya
About the Parliament of Kenya | Written on January, 2023
Introduction
Digital technology has profoundly impacted various sectors of our societies in the last decade, including governance structures such as parliaments. One notable example is the Parliament of Kenya, which has significantly modernised its operations via digital transformation. This process has underlined the essential role of technology in improving operational efficiency, enhancing transparency, and fostering participatory democracy. This essay delves into the details of the Parliament of Kenya's digital transformation journey, analysing the challenges, strategies, and achievements of this modernisation.
The Imperative of Digital Transformation
The Parliament of Kenya acknowledged early on the importance of embracing digital transformation as a means of enhancing operational efficiency. Particularly, the drive to digitise was anchored in the desire to modernise recruitment processes, which historically had been manual, time-consuming, and resource-intensive. The adoption of an online recruitment system was an impactful first step, which led to more efficient processing of applications and expedited the overall recruitment process.
Human Resource Challenges: The Skills Gap
While digital transformation has significantly streamlined operations, it has also presented new challenges in terms of human resources. The global shortage in Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills is acutely felt in the Parliament of Kenya. This shortage has manifested in challenges in retaining skilled staff and recruiting those who can support the transformation processes. Moreover, due to budgetary limitations, the Parliament has had to resort to external consultants, highlighting the existing skill gap among the internal staff. This reliance on external expertise is a stop-gap measure rather than a long-term solution and points to the need for robust capacity building programmes to equip staff with requisite digital skills.
A Gradual but Steady Transformation
The timeline for the Parliament of Kenya's digital transformation has been a lengthy one, extending over a decade. Despite facing resource constraints, the Parliament has progressively implemented internal reforms, including in ICT and staff recruitment, since as early as 2008. The digital transformation strategy was not fully realised until 2018, indicating a gradual but determined approach. This slow but steady approach has allowed the Parliament to continuously improve its internal processes and accommodate the rapid pace of technological changes.
The Need for Procedural Adaptation
The adoption of digital technology in parliamentary procedures requires careful adaptation and revision of standing orders. New technologies can be disruptive to traditional parliamentary processes. Therefore, the successful integration of these technologies into the parliamentary structure necessitates significant goodwill from leadership and a thorough understanding of the intended digital processes. The Parliament of Kenya has demonstrated this by ensuring buy-in from the Speaker and committee chairs for ICT. Additionally, the Parliament has gleaned insights from other parliaments, demonstrating the value of shared experiences in overcoming procedural challenges.
Future Aspirations
The Parliament of Kenya's digital transformation is not merely an end in itself, but a launchpad for continuous improvement and adaptation. The Parliament's interest in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence for live captioning, demonstrates its ongoing commitment to harnessing digital technologies to enhance parliamentary processes and services.
Conclusion
The Parliament of Kenya's digital transformation journey presents an enlightening case study on the intersection of technology and governance. Despite various challenges, including a global skills shortage in ICT and procedural adaptations, the Parliament has achieved remarkable success in modernising its operations. This digital modernisation has ultimately rendered parliamentary procedures more efficient and transparent, fostering a more participatory democracy. The Parliament of Kenya's case underscores the potential of digital technology as a transformative force within parliamentary systems. However, it also points to the importance of addressing the accompanying challenges proactively to fully harness the benefits of digital transformation.