§ 40. Lieut.-Colonel MEYLERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Indian residents in Kenya Colony are refusing to pay the Poll Tax as a protest against communal franchise; whether any, and, if so, how many, such residents have been prosecuted; in how many cases the defaulters have been imprisoned; and whether in any case a sentence of imprisonment has been passed without preliminary attempts to recover the arrears by distress and sale?
Mr. THOMASA number of Indians in Kenya have refused to pay the Poll Tax as a protest against the white paper policy. The Poll Tax ordinance provides that persons defaulting shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding six weeks or until payment is made if earlier, provided the magistrate is satisfied that the defaulter has the means to pay and that his default is intentional. I am not in possession of particulars of the number of Indians who have been imprisoned, but the law is being enforced impartially on defaulters of all races.