Owino Opondo
22 June 2008
opinion
Nairobi — Defenders of liberal media consumption will tell you one thing; that parliaments in the Commonwealth are a poor study in live media coverage.
Although a number of former British colonies have allowed radio and television into their chamber - and in some cases committee - debates, there are a number of stringent rules threatening to rubbish that necessary avenue through which members of parliament account to the public.
All media houses
There has been a lot of enthusiasm in Kenya since last Tuesday when National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende allowed State-run Kenya Broadcasting Corporation to relay live radio broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings. KBC will have the monopoly to do the test runs until a parliamentary technical committee completes the necessary structures for bringing on board all media houses in the country.
The official launch of live radio and TV broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings will be in August and next February, respectively. By making this landmark move, Mr Marende lived true to his pledge to lead reforms of Parliament during his tenure and make it more open and accessible to the public. This way, electors are able to make informed decisions at the ballot box in the next General Election.
Where it has been allowed, live media coverage of parliamentary proceedings helps in educating the public about an institution hitherto shrouded in mystery, complete with elaborate procedures and tired traditions.
However, most countries worldwide have had a haphazard, if not a stop-go approach, to providing live coverage of chamber and committee sittings. It is not hard to defend this assertion.
In 2003, the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and UNESCO jointly conducted a study on the state of parliamentary broadcasting within the former British colonies.
The study revealed that due to lack of resources, most Commonwealth countries in Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean only carry live TV and radio broadcasts during important parliamentary occasions.
These include the official State Opening after a General Election, the national Budget and when the House takes a vote on a major law.
This is the case in Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, Tanzania and Uganda, among others.
Research into how live coverage has been implemented in different parliaments betray MPs as people so conscious of their dignity they have slapped several stringent rules to control the operations of broadcasters.
In the UK, for example, cameras must focus on the MP who is contributing or the Speaker. Cut-away reaction shots are not permitted, except of those named in the debate. The cameras must not show MPs yawning or dozing on the benches, unless they are seated behind the MP who is speaking.
If there is disruption, say, when a member is becoming unruly, violent or defiant of the Chair, the rules require that the cameras must not show disorderly scenes. They must, instead, focus on the Speaker.
Similar rules apply in Canada, Australia, Malta and Bahamas.
Kenya's Parliament has begun well by allowing live coverage of its proceedings. However, everything must be done to avoid some of the regulations such as those slapped on the media in the countries cited here. A few suggestions would suffice.
Their queries
For example, it is important for MPs to identify themselves and their constituencies since most members in the Tenth Parliament are serving their first term so radio listeners know who is speaking.
Questioners should also read out their queries so the listening and viewing public judge for themselves if the answers given by ministers and their assistants are satisfactory.
It would also make the Government Front Bench prepare detailed and convincing responses to members' questions, which mostly touch on the lives of ordinary Kenyans. The strategy would also discourage MPs from bringing questions that only serve to litter the Order Paper and waste Parliament's time.
It is hoped that when KBC begins live TV coverage of House proceedings this week, the Chair will allow cameras to "roam" the Chamber and let Kenyans know how many times their MPs conduct debate and pass legislation.
Our Parliament needs homegrown guidelines to open up the House for public appreciation, not borrowed ones that will serve to frustrate live media coverage. And the "Marende Offer" should be extended to committee sittings where MPs do the bulk of legislative work.
Owino Opondo is the Nation Parliamentary Editor.
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