§ 41. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many people in Kenya have been arrested to date as a result of the Mau Mau trouble; how many have been released after screening and where they now are; how many are still in custody and where they now are; and how many have been executed.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAs the reply contains many figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. HughesCan the Secretary of State say what steps are being taken to protect those who are released and those who declare themselves in favour of law and order? What steps are being taken to enable people to return in safety to their homes?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThat is one of the considerations we must always bear in mind, but with the progressive improvement in the situation that safety is being improved, too.
§ Mr. F. HarrisCan the right hon. Gentleman speed up the work of some of the screening camps, because in some it is deplorably slow?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Government of Kenya are conscious of that difficulty and they recently set up a committee under Sir Vincent Glenday which has reported and says that the new arrangement, in its view, should meet all genuine fears.
§ Mr. BennWill the Secretary of State tell the House how many of the people in detention camps have been acquitted by the courts that tried them, as there is evidence that a certain number have been?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThese figures are very complicated. I have taken a lot of trouble about the table. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will study it and then put down a Question next week when Questions to me will appear at the top of the list.
§ Mr. RankinIs the Minister aware that the present rate of improvement is so slight and so small that no one observes it?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am also aware that the problem is of such a kind that no one has tackled it before.
§ Following is the information:
| A. Arrests, prosecutions, etc., to 12th February | ||
| Arrested | … | 278,560 |
| Released after preliminary Questioning | … | 56,854 |
| Screened | … | 221,706 |
| Released after screening | … | 110,173 |
| Tried | … | 111,032 |
| Convicted | 92,571 | |
| Acquitted | 18,461 | |
| Awaiting trial | … | 501 |
| Mau Mau convicts in custody at 7th February | … | 18,210 |
| B. Additional detentions during Operation Anvil | ||
| Arrested | … | 33,500 |
| Released after preliminary Questioning | … | 10,500 |
| Released after screening | … | 5,348 |
§ The majority of persons released are in their districts of origin in Central Province. A small number were returned to Nairobi.
| C. Places of detention (all detainees including Anvil detainees) | ||
| Holding and detention camps | … | 30,114 |
| Works camps | … | 15,000 |
| Transit camps | … | 3,649 |
| D. Executions | ||
| Up to 11th February | … | 800 |