HC Deb 13 March 1957 vol 566 cc1116-7
11. Mr. Benn

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why attendance by Africans at political meetings in Kenya is restricted to those with loyalty certificates; who issues those certificates; and how many have been issued, and how many refused to the latest convenient date.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Loyalty certificates, which are issued by District Commissioners, are only required for Kikuyu, Embu and Meru attending political meetings in the Central Province. Elsewhere, including Nairobi, there is no restriction on attendance. The restriction in the Central Province is necessary for security reasons. To date 56,950 certificates have been issued. The number refused is known only in Nairobi, where 75 certificates have been refused as against 820 granted.

Mr. Benn

Does not the right hon. Gentleman believe that the way to maintain peace in Kenya is to provide a political alternative to violence? Does he not think that, at any rate in the long run, the practice of using the loyalty certificate will make it increasingly difficult for this transformation to take place?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I wish the hon. Member would sometimes look at this policy from the angle of those whose loyalty deserves some recognition. I think we ought also to recognise what a remarkable return to normal conditions in certain fields has already been achieved.