§ Mr. Bing76, 77 and 83. asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he is aware that in Kenya on 17th April, 1953, one Kimani wa Karanja was arrested and detained in custody overnight; that the next day he was seen by a number of witnesses, still in custody, at the Gachigos eating-house and that at about 4 p.m. on that day his body was found 50 yards from the Ngong Kijabe road; and whether he will make a statement as to how this man died:
whether he is aware that authenticated statements allegedly made by persons present at the shooting of one Chege wa Kahembie or in the vicinity thereof, have been handed to the Kenya police and copies sent to the Governor of Kenya; that these statements allege that Chege. while in custody, was shot by a European officer; and whether, in these circumstances, he will order a full inquiry to be made into the allegations;
whether he is aware that, on 4th May, 1953, Mr. Peter Evans, who was on 8th May declared a prohibited emigrant in Kenya, arranged for there to be interviewed by the Kenya police witnesses who desired to make statements in order that appropriate charges could be preferred against persons allegedly responsible for the death in custody of one, Kimani wa Karanja, and one, Chege wa Kahembie; and whether, under these circumstances, he will now make representations to the Government of Kenya urging them to allow Mr. Evans to return in order to assist in the investigations of these deaths.
§ Mr. HopkinsonOn 11th May, my right hon. Friend received from the Governor copies of the documents sent to him by Mr. Evans about the deaths of these persons and was assured that the 143W allegations would be fully investigated. Until the inquiry is complete I am unable to make any statement about the cause of their deaths.
As I informed the House last week the order to Mr. Evans to leave Kenya was in no way connected with this matter. Although the decision to cancel the passage was not taken until 4th May the Governor, in fact, reported on 10th April that Mr. Evans was going to be asked to leave the Colony within a stipulated period. That was at least a week before these particular incidents are alleged to have occurred. I am satisfied that they will be fully investigated and I do not propose to make representations to the Government of Kenya that Mr. Evans should be allowed to return to Kenya to assist in the investigations.