Incidents, Lokitaung (Inquiry) (Hansard, 11 June 1958)

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd

A preliminary report on certain incidents at Lokitaung came to the Governor's notice on 16th May, when he ordered an immediate inquiry by a senior officer. As a result of this inquiry, the Chief Secretary today made this statement to the Kenya Legislative Council.The following statement was made today (Wednesday, 11th June, 1958) by the Chief Secretary, Mr. W. F. Courts, at a meeting of the Kenya Legislative Council in Nairobi: Because certain allegations regarding conditions in a prison in the Northern Province, which accommodates a few Mau Mau convicts, have been given fairly widespread publicity, the Government feel that this House is entitled to a prompt statement on the situation. 2. A considerable time before these allegations were made public, the Government was aware of them and it had instituted—and indeed cornpleted—an investigation before the rumours were given wide publicity. 3. The allegations related to lack of adequate water supplies, visits from relatives, censorship of mail, rations and medical facilities. 4. As a result of the investigation which has been completed, the Government is satisfied that the allegations are unfounded. 5. As regards water supplies our investigation has shown that the District Officer responsible for the area in which the prison is situated had decided to close temporarily, to everyone, the usual water supply point for the purpose of cleaning and repair. This action was possible because rain had started and water was available for all local people in other ways and at other places, for example in rainwater tanks and from other available wells. The District Officer considered that the alternative well, from which convicts and other members of the local community were instructed to draw water on April 25, was fit for human use since it had recently been emptied and cleaned out. The usual water supply point was closed to all persons at the time in question, and there is no truth in suggestions that have been made that, although this source was closed to convicts, it continued to be available to the few European residents in the area. As from May 1, that is six days after it had been closed, the water supply point which was regularly used was reopened to everyone, including the convicts, and since then there have been no further complaints regarding the water supply. 6. Until this year there were no complaints about the water supply. This year there was a danger of Shortage, owing to drought, but it was possible to maintain an adequate supply for everyone including the convicts. Water rationing had to be imposed on everyone in Lokitaung for short periods earlier this year on account of drought conditions. The system of rationing was by putting a limit on the time allowed for the drawing of water, and the 27W convicts were able to draw approximately ten gallons per head per day in the period allotted them. This is about the same amount as they used, without any complaint, before rationing was imposed. There was no question of their being unable to have baths over a long period. 7. In making these allegations the convicts concerned described themselves as "political prisoners". That is quite incorrect. All of them are serving sentences following convictions in Court for criminal offences. They include some of the most dangerous leaders of the Mau Mau organisation and one who had been sentenced for consorting with persons in unlawful possession of firearms. 8. Regarding the allegations that these convicts were unable to have visits from relatives, there is no record of any such application having been received. 9. Suggestions which have been made that the prison was not visited regularly are quite untrue. The Provincial Commissioner, Northern Province, and the District Commissioner of Turkana are the Visiting Justices to the prison, and they inspect it regularly, as do senior officers of the Prisons Department. 10. As regards the allegations that censorship resulted in serious mail delays, these convicts had been told to inform their correspondents that letters should be addressed to them care of the Prison Headquarters in Nairobi, where these letters are censored, in order to reduce delays. The convicts, however, persisted in giving their address as the prison. It is unfortunate that this failure to comply with instructions for their benefit may have resulted in their mail being delayed, but the remedy is in their own hands, namely a request by the convicts to their correspondents that their mail should be addressed to them in the proper way. 11. All convicts at present serving sentences in the prison concerned were asked by the investigating officer if they had any complaints to make on the score of ill-treatment. Only one complained orally that he had been struck some time ago by an askari (prison warder), but he told the investigating officer that he did not wish anything about this to be included in his written statement. 12. I wish to assure the House that the Government is satisfied that the allegations of brutality against these convicts are quite unfounded, and that medical examinations at regular intervals have revealed no signs of ill-treatment. 28W 13. There is also the question of the ration scale. As Members know, these are fixed on the advice of the Medical Department There are occasional local variations in the scales, required by local supply conditions, but these variations are made only with the advice and approval of the Medical Officer. This practice has been the case in the prison concerned, where all convicts receive a balanced ration, including meat, and a vitamin supplement in the form of oil, tablets and yeast food which they are allowed to augment by vegetables cultivated in the allotments within the prison. 14. I will now turn to the allegation regarding medical facilities. A Medical Officer who is responsible for health in the prison, and lives within a hundred yards of it, visits it regularly once a week. He reports that it is untrue that the convicts are prone to disease. He reports further that they seldom have been ill and that they are all now in good health. 15. There were further allegations about the convicts' eyes. One convict was transferred to Kitale Hospital in 1955 for removal of an infected eye. Another has asked for spectacles, which will be provided if they are medically certified to be necessary. 16. Members will be well aware that these allegations have been made by convicts who include the principal leaders of Mau Mau—men who were responsible for the collapse of law and order in Kikuyu country which resulted in the need for the Emergency to be declared These were men who inspired superstition and fear among the masses of the Kikuyu, and recent experience with the Kiama Kia Muingi in the Colony has shown that the teaching of these Mau Mau leaders has not been entirely eradicated. 17. It is clear from the allegations which have been made that these men succeeded in illegally smuggling a letter out of the prison. It is equally clear that had they been held nearer Kikuyu country they might have tried to smuggle out more letters—letters which might well have caused further outbreaks of violence. We know from our experience during the month just before the declaration of the Emergency how expert these men are at the use of "double meanings". In order to obtain the greatest possible security it has been necessary to keep them in a very remote spot. In consequence, it has not been possible to appoint Official Visitors to the prison in addition to Visiting Justices, since visits could not be undertaken regularly in such a remote area, but the prison has been visited regularly by the Visiting Justices and by senior officers.