THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES IN POLITICAL GOVERNANCE OF EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENT

Abstract

This research project was carried out to ascertain the use of Information and Communication Technologies and Social Networking Sites in political governance of East African Legislative Assembly Parliament. The research project was based on the conviction that in this era of globalization use of ICTs and SNS’s are fundamentally important and will have tremendous impact on governance, leadership and legislation now and in the near future. The specific objectives of this study were intended; a) To evaluate the use of Information and Communication Technology in enhancing the political governance of East African legislative Assembly parliament. b) To evaluate the use of Social Networking Sites in enhancing the political governance of East African Legislative assembly Parliament. c) To come up with recommendation for enhancing political governance of East African Legislative Assembly parliament. The finding from the research showed that that all the respondents 100% were subscribed to social networking sites and used them from time. Additionally, the EALA parliamentarians had a disparity when it came to use of SNSs to interact with constituents, 73.3% of the respondents indicated that they have used SNSs to interact with constituents on matters affecting the community from time to time however 26.7% showed that they did not use Social Networking sites to interact with constituents. Lastly, the use of ICTs and SNSs by EALA has also made it possible for citizens to view Assembly proceedings in real time and there by access which of their representatives is doing his/her job right in the political arena. Lastly, the world is changing in a dynamic fashion, ICTs and SNS’s are among the tools leading the transformation and it is about time Parliamentarians in Africa embrace ICTs and SNS’s as major tools in changing how leaders interact and remain accountable to their constituents a practice that’s been a myth in Africa.