§ Mr. Rileyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the desirability of instituting the registration of births in Kenya Colony in the same way as in Uganda where it has been found very useful?
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Mr. M. MacDonald:The provisions of the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinances in Kenya and in Uganda are similar. In neither Ordinance is the registration of native births (to which I presume that the hon. Member is referring) made compulsory, though in both Ordinances the Governor is given power to make it so for any group of persons or for any area he may think fit. This power has not, as far as my present information goes, ever been used in either Dependency. In parts of Uganda native laws are in force which provide for compulsory registration of births. Similar arrangements are not, however, practicable in Kenya.