HC Deb 13 July 1961 vol 644 cc567-8
23. Mr. F. Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what will be the cost to public funds of the house now being built in Kenya for Mr. Jomo Kenyatta.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The estimated cost is £2,800.

Mr. Noel-Baker

First, is it not a ridiculous situation that the man who, everybody knows, will be the dominating African politician in the area very shortly should be confined to his house, although he is allowed to receive consuls and other visitors, and that the house should be built at public expense? What kind of government is this? Secondly, are there not hundreds of other detainees who have lost their homes and all they have, just as much as Mr. Kenyatta? What is being done for them?

Mr. Macleod

For every person who is under a restriction, there is an obligation on the Kenya Government to provide accommodation. This does not differ for Mr. Kenyatta or for any other person. The house remains the property of the Kenya Government.

30. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he now proposes to set Jomo Kenyatta free.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The position of Jomo Kenyatta remains as indicated in the Governor's statement of 1st March.

Mr. Rankin

But is it not the case that Mr. Kenyatta is now playing an effective part in Kenya politics, that he is being quite regularly consulted by a number of politicians of both parties, and, in view of that, would not the right hon. Gentleman give his mind to this problem again, and not just claim that what is happening now with Mr. Kenyatta shows the freedom which he has in exile? Would he realise that freedom in exile is not freedom?

Mr. Macleod

Of course, it is true that Mr. Kenyatta has been seeing people. One of the last people to see him was my noble Friend the Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Viscount Lambton), but it was made clear in the Governor's statement that it was part of the Government's policy that he should have increasingly wider contacts. On the general proposition, I have no statement to make.

Mr. Rankin

Is the right hon. Gentleman confusing his noble Friend the Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Viscount Lambton) with African politicians? It was to those that I was referring. Would he not think about that problem again?

Mr. Macleod

I can assure the hon. Member that, whatever confusions I may have had, that is not one of them.