§ 6. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the persons in Kenya who have been arrested, screened and not charged with any offence are being detained up to date; where they are being detained; and what are the physical and other conditions of their detention.
§ Mr. LytteltonI am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the places of detention of those in custody on 28th November. Otherwise I cannot add to the reply which I gave on this subject last week.
§ Mr. HughesWhy are these people being detained in custody without charge? Is that not contrary to our system of law; is it not improper; and will the right hon Gentleman have them either charged of released as soon as possible?
§ Mr. LytteltonThe hon. and learned Gentleman must consult the precedents of this thing. Everybody will be charged as quickly as possible.
§ Following are the details:
§ Persons in custody at midnight, Friday, 28th November, were detained as follows:
| Nairobi Area Prison | … | 1,381 |
| Nairobi Police Station | … | 230 |
| Rift Valley Prison | … | 1,742 |
| Rift Valley Police Station | … | 367 |
| Nyeri District Prison | … | 346 |
| Nyeri District Police Station | … | 657 |
| Nyanza Prison | … | 442 |
| Nyanza Police Station | … | 38 |
| Coast Prison | … | 368 |
| Coast Police Station | … | 52 |
| Northern Frontier Prison | … | 13 |
§ 28. Mr. Haleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the number of cases heard to the most recent convenient date under the Emergency Laws in Kenya, the number of persons convicted and the number of persons acquitted.
§ Mr. LytteltonThe Governor of Kenya states that this information will need to he abstracted from the records of each separate magisterial court and police 439 station. That is being done and I will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. HaleIs the right hon. Gentleman seriously telling the House that at this time there is not available to the Government of Kenya the record of convictions and acquittals for alleged serious crimes against emergency legislation at trials which have taken place in the last two or three weeks? If he is seriously suggesting that information is not available, will he find out why it is not and who is to blame? Is he really trying to conceal vital information from the House? Is it a fact that scarcely a newspaper has a record of a single acquittal?
§ Mr. LytteltonI have nothing to add. I have given the total of those who have been tried and acquitted. It will take a long time—the Kenya Government have plenty to do—to obtain all the details.