HC Deb 29 April 1953 vol 514 cc2121-2
7. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many people in Kenya, up to date, have been arrested in connection with the disturbances there; how many have been screened and tried or released; how many are now in custody; and where the latter are.

35. Mr. Hale

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now state the total casualties in Kenya since the passing of the emergency laws, including the number of persons arrested; the number of persons detained for screening; the number of persons imprisoned, and who have not been brought to trial; the number of persons imprisoned and released without trial; the number of persons shot after a challenge to stop; and the number of persons shot whilst resisting arrest.

Mr. Lyttelton

Up to 14th April, 270 members of security forces and civilians had been murdered (255 Africans, three Asians and 12 Europeans) and 166 wounded (153 Africans, four Asians and nine Europeans). Since the beginning of the Emergency 82,840 persons have been arrested. Of them 8,975 were released at once; 38,947 have been screened and released, and 28,912 screened and tried. Six thousand and six persons are now in custody awaiting trial, of whom 2,549 are in police custody, 2,116 in prison custody and 1,291 in remand homes. Four hundred and thirty persons have been shot while resisting arrest or after being challenged to stop.

Mr. Hughes

I am obliged to the Minister for that detailed reply. Would he tell us whether anything is being done to those in custody with a view to divesting their minds of the perverted ideas of Mau Mau and giving them an opportunity of learning how to be good citizens?

Mr. Lyttelton

I think the hon. and learned Member will not press me on the narrow subject of men awaiting trial on particular charges. We and the Kenya Government are doing everything we can to make the position clear to the Kikuyu tribe in general.

Mr. Hale

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that, on the whole, these figures are a testimony to the success of a policy of collective punishment and the punishment of the whole Kikuyu tribe and of driving good Kikuyu workers from the farms back to the Reserves? Would he not accede to a plea that one really genuine effort be made at conciliation, even at this stage, through the national leaders of the Kikuyu, making a real appeal to try to get understanding and toleration?

Mr. Lyttelton

I am afraid the hon. Gentleman is in deep error on this matter. If he considers that collective punishment has anything to do with the arrest of people charged with definite crimes, he must think again. We must resist threats to law and order. At the same time, we must make it clear that the law-abiding have a future, and a prosperous future.

Mr. Alport

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the movement of the Kikuyu from the settled areas back to the Reserves was not as a result of pressure from the authorities but as a result of the policy of the Mau Mau leaders in order to embarrass the authorities and cause hardship to the people concerned?

Mr. Lyttelton

Yes, that is so. Of course, the murder of over 200 Africans, many of them squatters, has led to a movement, which the Government have tried to check, of Kikuyu squatters from the farms back to the Reserves.