§ 13. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the declared political objects of Kiama Kia Muingi in Kenya; to what extent its members have committed acts of violence; on what grounds it has been made illegal; and the maximum penalties for membership and leadership of the organisation.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydKiama Kia Muingi is a secret society and has no publicly declared objects. Its aims are, however, known to be similar to those of Mau 487 Mau, and are directed to undermining the position of Africans who have helped to keep the peace. Since these Africans form the backbone of administration in the Central Province, the society is a danger to good government, and for this reason it was declared unlawful. It has not been allowed to develop to the stage where its members, as such, have committed violence. The maximum penalties for membership and leadership of an unlawful society are 7 and 14 years' imprisonment respectively.
§ Mr. BrockwayDoes the right hon. Gentleman really think that the imposition of 7 years' imprisonment for membership of an organisation and 14 years' imprisonment on leaders of an organisation whose members have taken a vow of non-violence is the best method to create good relations between the races in Kenya?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe hon. Member, perhaps not for the first time, has got his facts wrong. The Committee of K.K.M. has been compiling a list of Africans and their families who helped in the fight against Mau Mau, with a view to revenge later. Eighty-five were originally arrested, of whom 42 were released. Of the remainder, 13 were restricted to living in certain districts and others were restricted to villages within their district. No one has been prosecuted for membership or leadership. The Government of Kenya and I do not intend that this organisation should become an extensive threat.
§ Mr. J. JohnsonIs it not a fact that all this has developed because of unemployment? Will the right hon. Gentleman turn his attention to the 10,000 or 20,000 detainees, now coming back to Kiambu and other parts of the territory, who are unemployed? Will he do something about that source of discontent?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydMy attention is constantly directed to that, and so is that of the Government of Kenya. I hope that the hon. Member will direct his attention to the 51,000 Kikuyu who have been found work in Kiambu.