HC Deb 24 June 1947 vol 439 cc24-5W
39. Mr. Piratin

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he can now make a report on the Court of Inquiry and the trial arising from the not and shooting of African natives on 2nd January at Gilgil, Kenya; and, of the five killed and 11 wounded, how many were rioters and how many were loyal troops.

Mr. Bellenger

On 2nd January, 1947, 150 Askaris of the Base Ammunition Depot at Gilgil refused to work. A Company of the 5th King's African Rifles from Nanyuki was called in to restore order and arrest the ringleaders. A serious clash occurred between the mutineers and the Company of the King's African Rifles. The mutineers advanced brandishing sticks and iron bars and hurling large stones and other missiles at the Askaris of the King's African Rifles, as a result of this, some of the loyal Askaris were knocked down. Some of the loyal Askaris then, without orders, opened fire individually on the mutineers but ceased in less than one minute on the orders of an officer. As a result of this clash the casualties among the mutineers were five killed and 12 wounded and among the loyal troops two wounded.

A Court of Inquiry was held and it was decided that no blame could be attached to anyone except the mutineers and that in the circumstances the action taken by the loyal troops was not unreasonable, as if they had not opened fire they might well have been overrun The local representative of the Judge Advocate-General advised that no blame could be attached to the African Ranks who opened fire and the Attorney-General decided not to take any civil proceedings for manslaughter, as the shooting was justified.

The 14 ringleaders were tried by a general court martial which was completed on 27th March, 1947, and the finding and sentences were as follow: Ten accused were awarded imprisonment for two years and discharged with ignominy. Three accused were awarded imprisonment for three years and discharged with ignominy. The case against the 14th accused was adjourned sine die for further evidence These sentences were confirmed and were promulgated on 8th April 1947.