Parliament turns to AI and cloud technology to improve legislative broadcasting
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, April 28, 2026Parliament is looking to adopt new cloud and artificial intelligence technologies to modernise its broadcasting infrastructure and improve coverage of live House and committee debates.
Taking it to their social media account on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the Parliament has said that the move comes after a benchmarking tour of the NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas, United States, where a delegation of MPs, regulators and officials from the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications took stock of the latest trends in international media technology, artificial intelligence and digital broadcasting.
“The National Assembly is seeking to embrace new cloud-based technologies to improve its broadcasting systems and modernise live coverage of House business. This follows a benchmarking trip to the NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas, USA. The lessons will also guide Parliament’s review of Kenya’s media laws and regulatory frameworks, lawmakers said, according to a Parliament statement read in part.
Parliament, in its statement, has further said that the insight from the experience will inform the ongoing review of media laws and regulations in Kenya as Parliament works to update laws to align with the fast-evolving digital platforms and communications technologies.
The delegation was chaired by Dagoretti South MP and Chairperson of the Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, Hon. John Kiarie. They were joined by Limuru MP and vice-chairperson of the Committee on Broadcasting and Library Services, Hon. John Kiragu; Turkana Woman Representative Hon. Cecilia Ngetit; and Wajir South MP Hon. Mohammed Adow.
During the visit, Parliament confirmed that global technology companies Adobe, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Google Cloud showcased how artificial intelligence (AI) is being integrated into media production, post-production, distribution and newsroom workflows. The trend, they said, has evolved from experimentation to real results, with automation of workflows, monetisation, and issues of trust and ownership.
The delegation also had discussions with prominent media technology firms, including Evertz, BlackBox, Qumulo, G-Drive, Adobe and Canon Enterprises, focusing on modernising the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit to increase productivity, security and digital distribution of media content.
Need to amend communication laws
Dagorreti North lawmaker John Kiarie said Parliament can improve real-time information delivery, in particular, through increased live streaming of committee meetings, to improve transparency and information access of parliamentary business.
“Parliament has the potential for real-time dissemination of quality information, particularly through live broadcasts of committee sittings,” Kiarie said.
Wajir South MP Mohammed Adow, on the other hand, noted there is a need to amend laws to accommodate digital platforms that can facilitate the wider and faster dissemination of parliamentary information.
“Existing legislation must be updated for digital platforms that can support broad dissemination of parliamentary content,” Adow explained.
Turkana Woman Representative Cecilia Ngetit said digital broadcasting systems and cloud computing are a safe and modern way of communicating with the public, adding that the change is a data and information management revolution.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), David Omwoyo, also at the forum, stated that artificial intelligence is here and now and is impacting media costs, revenue streams and collaborations. He said the global media markets are increasingly shaped by financial capital, platform segmentation and user behaviour.
Call for collaboration
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show is the largest event in the world focused on broadcasting, streaming, artificial intelligence and the creator economy.
The delegates noted that the event will provide insights into emerging global regulations, especially in digital governance, AI integration, and media convergence.
They also stressed the need for greater collaboration between the National Assembly, the Media Council of Kenya, and the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications to facilitate media policy reforms and Kenya’s transformation towards digital broadcasting.