§ 16. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has authorised the alienation of any of that land lying to the north of Laikipia, in Kenya Colony, which has for many years past been used by the Samburu for the grazing of their herds ; whether he can say whether any applications have been made to the Government of Kenya for allotments of land in this region; and, if so, who were the applicants and what reply has been made to them?
§ Mr. AMERYThe land in question consists of about 2,000,000 acres of the former Northern Masai Reserve, into which the Samburu have penetrated, though, according to my information, that penetration has been slight in the southern part of the area. In November, 1926, I decided that the northern portion, rather over 500,000 acres, should reserved for the use of the Samburu, that a middle area, very roughly 600,000 acres, should be left open for further consideration when the possibilities of the remainder of the Samburu country had been adequately explored, and that the southern portion, say 850,000 acres, should be available for alienation to Europeans for pastoral purposes, subject to an equitable allocation of water and salt licks along the boundary separating it from the middle portion. I am riot aware that applications have been made to the Government of Kenya for allotments of land in this southern portion.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the portion he proposes to take contains the only river water to which these people can take their herds during droughts, and, if it be taken away, the position of the rest of this area will become impossible ; and will he give instructions that their water rights in this old alienated area shall be preserved?
§ Mr. AMERYNo, Sir; I am not aware of the facts stated by the hon. and gallant Member, but the need for seeing that the Samburu settlement in the northern 7 part of the area should have water and access to salt has been carefully considered.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhy should these lands be taken away at all from this inoffensive and very law-abiding tribe?
Lieut.-Commander KENWORT'HYHave not the people who want the land come even more recently into the country?
§ Sir ROBERT HAMILTONWhat steps are being taken to delimit the reserves for the Samburu; and has there been any inquiry into the area required for the Samburu?
§ Mr. AMERYYes, Sir; I thought I made that clear in my answer. An area of 500,000 acres has been definitely allotted for the use of the Samburu, and another 600,000 acres with water and salt facilities are being held in suspense, pending a fuller investigation as to what other lands are available to the Samburu in their own country.