HC Deb 28 May 1952 vol 501 cc1337-8
21. Sir L. Plummer

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what alterations in the boundaries of the native reserves of Kenya and the temporary native reserves have been made by the Governor of Kenya since 1938 in the exercise of the power conferred on him by Section 54 of the Crown Lands Ordinance; and what is the total area of land affected.

Mr. Hopkinson

Only one such alteration has been made since 1938. The Kamasia tribe gave up 13,250 acres in a native reserve and received in exchange 14,743 acres of Crown Land in the highlands which the Government purchased for the purpose. This alteration, by which the reserve gained 1,493 acres and an improvement in the boundaries, was approved by, among other bodies, the Native Lands Trust Board, and confirmed by a resolution of the Legislative Council.

Sir L. Plummer

Am I to assume from that answer that the Government will continue the course followed by the previous Government and will see to it that land alienated from the Africans will not be transferred to the Europeans?

Mr. Hopkinson

In general, there has been no alteration of policy whatever in this matter.

Sir H. Williams

Which of these acres had most groundnuts on them?

Mr. Hale

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that while his answers may be technically accurate and his friends are laughing behind him, there is attested evidence that at the time the allocation of Crown Lands was made a lot of native holdings were overlooked by accident, and that there were cases in Kenya in the last 12 months of tribes being evicted from land which they and their ancestors had occupied for hundreds of years, and where their ancestors are buried?

Mr. Rankin

Is the right hon. Gentleman giving us a firm assurance that the system which prevailed, and which I am assured is still in existence, whereby Members of the Government in Kenya can award land to themselves by decisions which they take in council, is now terminated finally?

Mr. Hopkinson

That is another question.