§ 23. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make immediate arrangements for the release of Mr. Jomo Kenyatta, Mr. Achieng Oneko and others still under political restriction in Kenya.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodNo, Sir. The case of each person under restriction is regularly reviewed. It remains the policy that no person will be released while he is a danger to security.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe Colonial Secretary will be aware that the political climate in Kenya has been much improved since his success at the Kenya Constitutional Conference. Is he aware that good will will be still further improved if Jomo Kenyatta is released? [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Will he, therefore, follow his precedent in regard to Dr. Banda and set more people free and so make more people in Kenya happy? Is he aware that in any case Jomo Kenyatta will be released in due course? Would it not be better that he be released before independence so that all the political leaders can adjust themselves to the part which he will play in the political life in Kenya?
§ Mr. MacleodAll cases are regularly reviewed. The hon. Member has addressed his supplementary question entirely to the case of Mr. Kenyatta. When I was asked this question on my return from Africa yesterday, I made it quite clear that in my view the situation in Nyasaland a year ago is worlds away from the evil nature of the occurrences which took place in Kenya in those years. 1461 The situation in relation to Kenyatta is that he is a man who was convicted in the courts and his conviction was confirmed by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Although his case is, and will continue to be, the subject of regular review, the Governor does not feel—I fully support him in this—that it would help the situation in Kenya if he were released.
§ Mr. StonehouseMay I ask the Colonial Secretary to address himself to the case of Mr. Achieng Oneko, who was completely acquitted of the charges made against him and immediately rearrested and has been in restriction since that time? Will he see that he, at least, is released?
§ Mr. MacleodI will not give an undertaking that he will be released, but I agree that these cases are different for the reasons mentioned by the hon. Gentleman. I know, because I spoke to the Governor only a few hours ago in Nairobi about this case of Achieng Oneko, that he is reviewing every case, including this case and the case of the senior Chief Koinange. I hope to have the results of these reviews fairly soon.