§ Mr. W. BROWNasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Joseph Kangethe, the president of the Kikuyu Central Association, was recently sentenced to two months' imprisonment and a fine of £7 10s.; and what was the nature of the charge brought against him?
§ Dr. SHIELSJoseph Kangethe, who is President of the Kikuyu Central Association, was tried and sentenced to two months' imprisonment by the native tribunal at Fort Hall for disobeying an order of a headman named Njuguna by taking part in a public meeting which the headman had prohibited under Section 8 of the Native Authority Ordinance of Kenya. Section 8 (q) of this Ordinance provides that any headman may, from time to time, issue orders to be obeyed by the natives residing within the local limits of his jurisdiction prohibiting such natives from holding or attending any meeting or assembly within the local limits of his jurisdiction which, in the headman's opinion, might tend to be subversive of peace and good will. Kangethe was sentenced by the native tribunal to two months' imprisonment. He appealed against this sentence, and the appeal was heard by the resident magistrate at Nairobi, who reduced the sentence to one month's imprisonment. Kangethe appealed to the Supreme Court of Kenya, and this Court dismissed his appeal and increased the sentence to one of two months' imprisonment with a fine of 150s., or, in default, further imprisonment for two months. The acting Solicitor-General appeared in support of the conviction before the resident magistrate and before the Supreme Court, but did not ask for an increase in the sentence. The Supreme Court in dismissing the appeal and increasing the sentence2156W referred to the offence of the accused as "an impudent challenge against authority and good government, as he, an educated man, was setting a wicked example to the less fortunate members of his tribe."