§ 26. Sir R. HAMILTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether during the past year there has been an increase of sexual offences in Kenya; and whether the provisions of the Bill for increasing the penalties which has recently passed the Colonial Legislature has been approved by His Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. AMERYThe necessity for a drastic change in the law relating to sexual offences has been urged on me by the Governor of Kenya, with the support of his Executive Council and the Chief Justice. The Governor has reported that two extremely brutal attacks of a sexual nature by natives on European women have occurred during the last few weeks, and that the police have had information of several others during the year, in which the victims were unwilling to give evidence and no case could, therefore, be brought. As the correspondence has been by telegram, I have not the text of the Ordinance, but it would appear to be covered in all essentials by the authority which I have given.