§ 38. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far his policy of collective punishment in Kenya has extended up to the present; what towns, villages and areas have suffered from it; how many people have been killed and injured by it; and how much further he intends to extend it.
§ Mr. LytteltonCollective punishment in Kenya imposed since the declaration of a State of Emergency has so far been applied only to two areas, in which no town or village in the English sense has been affected. The first was in one small part of Nyeri district and the second in another small part of Laikepia district. In neither operation is anyone known to have been killed or injured. Whether this policy will be applied to these small specific areas will depend upon the conduct of the Kikuyu.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Minister not agree that this policy of collective punishment is not only unrighteous but ineffective and is alienating the friends of peace, and will he see that the innocent are not punished equally with the guilty or at all?
§ Mr. LytteltonThe hon. and learned Gentleman has tried to answer his own Question. I should not agree with those answers at all. He has been fortunate enough not to be in a community where the ordinary processes of law and order have broken down. In these circumstances, there is no alternative except to impose collective punishment, provided these punishments are confined to small areas where atrocious crimes have been committed.