§ 49. Mr. Bennasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he authorised the despatch of a series of duplicated letters by his Department which contained allegations of mass murder against Dedan Kimathi while his appeal against the death sentence was pending; and why he was not charged with these crimes in court.
§ Mr. MaclayIn stating that Dedan Kimathi was widely believed to have been responsible for some of the worst horrors perpetrated by Mau Mau, these replies to letters received in my right hon. Friend's Department were designed merely to refer to his leadership of Mau Mau. Two informations were filed against him, the first alleging unlawful possession of arms and the second alleging murder. The former was heard by the Supreme Court first and a conviction was obtained. The second was, therefore, not proceeded with.