Muturi told MPs they will now go back to visually attracting the Speaker’s attention by rising to their feet or waving their hands (for the handicapped) if they want to contribute/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 13 – Members of the National Assembly will resort to an ‘analogue’ system after Speaker Justin Muturi announced that the digital biometric system adopted in the Eighth Parliament is undergoing an overhaul.
Muturi told MPs they will now go back to visually attracting the Speaker’s attention by rising to their feet or waving their hands (for the handicapped) if they want to contribute.
“It’s only after the completion of the exercise that might take a few days that the system will be fully operational for use. In the meantime a member wishing to move a Motion, seeking to second or contribute to a debate or raise a Point of Order is advised to catch the Speaker’s eye by raising in his or her place to speak,” he said while issuing the new guidelines.
“Members with disability are exempted from this interim procedure and are advised to raise their hand or hands from their places.”
He also advised MPs that as they commence debate they should begin by mentioning their name, constituency they represent for purposes of accurate Hansard recordings.
MPs will also be required to use the manual register for purposes of regarding their attendance.
The National Assembly Speaker explained that once the maintenance work is complete, it will be possible for the House administration to monitor the biometric system to track attendance and keep tabs on MPs.
Muturi directed that all the 349 legislators to familiarise themselves with details of the system.
“The Clerk of the National Assembly is currently making arrangements to have all members’ details registered into the electronic system and issued with Chamber login cards. At the end, members will use these cards to make interventions to speak, vote in divisions, make interventions and raise Point of Orders.”
“Similarly the Clerk of the National Assembly has also commenced the process of registration of all members in the biometric system for purposes of checking your Chamber attendance,” he stated.
In his acceptance speech after his re-election last month, Muturi stated that he intends to use his second term at the helm of the Legislature to ensure the successful implementation of a paperless Parliament.
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