§ Lieut.-Colonel Thorpasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the shortage of accommodation in 40W Nairobi, what steps are being taken by the Kenya Government to house its officers.
Mr. Creech JonesThe Kenya Development and Reconstruction Authority has been giving close attention to the provision of quarters for civil servants of all races throughout Kenya. The matter was examined by the Development Committee which recommended the provision for this purpose of a sum of £450,000 in the ten-year plan. Of this sum £10,000 has been included in the 1947 draft Estimates for African Public Works Department staff quarters and £24,500 for European staff quarters in Nairobi. In addition to the £450,000, a grant of £83,000 has been approved under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act for the construction of African staff quarters in Nairobi. Under the C.D. & W. scheme about £46,000 was spent in 1946, while £30,430 is available for expenditure this year. The shortage of labour and materials has prevented the construction of quarters for Government officers in Nairobi keeping pace with the demand during the war years but every effort is now being made to make up the heavy arrears.