§ 34 and 35. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he will make a further statement on his inquiries into the Hola camp incident, indicating in particular, whether the persons who used illegal force as a result of which 11 detainees were killed have yet been identified; and what further steps the Attorney-General or the Government of Kenya have taken, or intend to take, in the matter;
(2) if he will make a further statement indicating how far the disciplinary proceedings taken against the Hola Camp commandant and his second-in-command have proceeded; if they have been concluded; and with what result.
§ Mr. J. AmeryNo further evidence has come to light since the inquiry by the Investigating Magistrate which would lead to the identication of those who used illegal force. Disciplinary charges have since been preferred as follows:
Against Sullivan:
(i) That you being a Superintendent in the Kenya Prison Service on 3rd March, 1959, at Hola in the Coast Province, acted with gross dereliction in the performance of your duties as Officer in Charge of Hola Special Detention Camp in the you—
- (a) put to work eighty-five non-coo operative detainees from the said camp in such a way that you were unable to exercise proper control over the said detainees and in a manner contrary to instructions given you by Senior Superintendent Cowan;
- (b) failed adequately to supervise the members of the said Service under your orders in charge of the said detainees;
35 - (c) failed to prevent members of the said Service under your orders from improper assault in your presence of some or all of the said detainees.
(ii) That you being a Superintendent in the Kenya Prison Service on 4th March, 1959, at Hola in the Coast Province acted with gross dereliction in the performance of your duties as Officer in Charge of Hola Special Detention Camp, in that you gave misleading information concerning the events which had occurred at the said camp on the morning of the 3rd March, 1959, to the then Acting Deputy Commissioner of Prisons, Mr. W. M. Campbell, and to the Under Secretary of Defence, Mr. A. C. Small.Against Coutts:
- (i) That you being an Assistant Superintendent in the Kenya Prison Service on the 3rd March, 1959, at Hola in the Coast Province acted with gross dereliction in the performance of your duties when in charge of a working party of eighty-five non-co-operative detainees from the Hola Special Detention Camp, in that you failed to prevent members of the said service under your orders from unlawfully assaulting in your presence some or all of the said detainees, and
- (ii) that you being an Assistant Superintendent in the Kenya Prison Service on the 4th March, 1959, at Hola in the Coast Province acted with gross dereliction in the performance of your duties in that you gave misleading information concerning the events which had occurred at Hola on the morning of the 3rd March, 1959, to the then Acting Deputy Commissioner of Prisons, Mr. W. M. Campbell, and to the Under Secretary of Defence, Mr. A. C. Small.
I understand that the inquiry started today I cannot say precisely when it will finish, but I know that it will be conducted with all possible haste. In view of the extent of the tragedy and the public anxiety ensuing therefrom I shall take the very unusual step of arranging for the proceedings and findings to be published after they have been considered by the Kenya Government.