MPs could lose jobs if new biometric system exposes rate of absenteeism

House Public Investment Committee members during the sitting to investigate former Transport minister Amos Kimunya at Continental House in Nairobi, Monday.  Parliament has installed a new biometric system to monitor MPs’ attendance.

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

NAIROBI, KENYA: Many Members of Parliament risk losing their seats if the data captured by the new biometric technology now in operation is used to expose and punish truants. The new system went into operation in the National Assembly last Tuesday, but the one for the Senate is still in the pipeline and will have the same effect when rolled out. But it is not just that the presence and absence of the 349 Members of Parliament and 67 senators can be monitored technologically. Many of them are seemingly unaware of a crucial amendment to the House rules that make it easy for them to be sent home on grounds of truancy.