The critical need to enhance public access to the Hansard took centre stage as the 7th Hansard Association of Kenya (HAK) Annual Conference commenced this morning.

The week-long forum opened this morning by the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Mrs. Serah Kioko, underscored the importance of providing the Hansard in local languages to foster greater public participation in legislative affairs.

In her opening remarks and later while making a presentation on 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒓𝒅, Mrs. Kioko urged Hansard professionals to confront the existing linguistic barriers that impede public access to legislative records, particularly at the county level.

“We must not shy away from the linguistic questions that continue to challenge our work," Mrs. Kioko stated.

“As a nation rich in diverse tongues, the use of Kiswahili and local dialects in legislative proceedings legitimately raises questions of inclusion, comprehension, and representation. I am delighted to note that in the coming days, your discussions will delve into how we can balance the necessity for standardization with our languages' rich diversity”, she told the forum

Highlighting the pivotal role of the Hansard within the legislature, Mrs. Kioko emphasized that Hansard professionals have consistently served as custodians of democracy and instruments of accountability, enabling citizens to scrutinize their elected leaders.

“Indeed, the Hansard is a powerful tool for accountability. The records you produce empower citizens to hold their elected leaders accountable for their pronouncements”, she affirmed.

“In fact, a common public reaction I've heard regarding the Hansard is: 'Huyo Mheshimiwa alisema nini? Ngoja nisome kwa Hansard' ('What did that Honourable Member say? Let me read the Hansard'). While often said in jest, this illustrates the significant impact of your work”, she noted.

Advocating strongly for the use of Kiswahili, Mrs. Kioko reminded the forum that Article 7(1) of the Constitution recognizes it as Kenya's national language.

She clarified that while Article 120 designates Kiswahili, English, and Kenyan Sign Language as the official languages of Parliament and for conducting its business, the complexity of English has the potential to alienate non-English speaking populations and impede public understanding.

She encouraged the officers to explore the practices of South Africa and India, where legislative Hansards are translated into local languages to improve accessibility.

Professor Robert Oduori, an associate lecturer at Moi University, echoed these sentiments, urging participants to invest in local languages to domesticate the Hansard.

“The accessibility of the Hansard is directly linked to the language we employ," Professor Oduori asserted.

“Embracing our local languages will not only cultivate a dynamic translation ecosystem, thereby generating employment, but will also draw citizens closer to the legislatures' agenda”, he held.

He called for the swift consideration of the Kiswahili Bill, which he noted has been inordinately delayed in debate, and encouraged legislative officers to promote the use of Kiswahili in parliamentary proceedings.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, HAK President Mr. George Wanyoko (Senate) underscored the Hansard's crucial role in fostering good governance and democracy.

He also reflected on HAK's history and accomplishments, including its growth, capacity-building initiatives, and the development of a Hansard guide.

Speaking on behalf of County Legislatures, the Speaker of Garissa County Assembly, Hon. Abdi Idle Gure, cautioned Hansard professionals against working in isolation and advocated for collaboration between the Hansard and other departments with related functions.

Addressing the integration of technology, Speaker Abdi acknowledged that while AI-driven transcription could facilitate real-time digital reporting, it is vital to maintain a focus on accuracy, neutrality, and accessibility.

While recognizing the demanding nature of Hansard officers' work, he appealed to Speakers and Clerks of legislatures to provide necessary support, including wellness programs and continuous capacity building, to ensure effective service delivery.

“Let us not forget the human element of this profession; the need to support our staff through wellness programs and continuous capacity building," Speaker Abdi emphasized.

The conference themed “𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑮𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇
𝑫𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒚” has attracted participants from the National Assembly, Senate, 33 County Assemblies, the Judiciary, and the National Land Commission.

From the Africa region, representatives from the Parliaments of Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Ghana, and Malawi are also in attendance.