HC Deb 14 November 1961 vol 649 cc39-40W
70. Sir A. Hurd

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a further statement on Government policy for Kenya, following his recent talks with representatives of political parties.

Mr. Maudling

I recently reviewed the political situation in Kenya with the Governor and, as a result, I issued a statement, which I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

During subsequent talks with a delegation from the Kenya African National Union, I have reaffirmed my desire to see Kenya progress constitutionally in accordance with the procedure set out in that statement.

The following message from the Secretary of State for the Colonies {Mr. Reginald Maudling) was read by the Governor of Kenya (Sir Patrick Renison) to the delegates attending the constitutional talks in Nairobi this morning (2nd November, 1961): In the last few days I have very fully discussed the affairs of Kenya with the Governor.

When His Excellency addressed the Legislative Council last May he spoke of his hope that the way would be prepared for Kenya to advance "as surely to a sound independence as has recently been accomplished to our admiration in other countries in the Commonwealth". In pursuit of that hope he has discussed with you the possibilities of finding an agreed approach to Kenya's constitutional problems, with a view to determining specific and early steps to bring Kenya to full internal self-government. The steps examined included the formation of a joint government and I have little doubt that if such a government were formed, the members of which could work harmoniously together, that would be most helpful. But the formation of such a government is dependent on agreement between the leaders themselves.

The problem which the Governor and I have particularly discussed is how to proceed, whether or not a joint Government is formed, if we are to prepare the constitutional framework which offers the best chance of Kenya moving smoothly through internal self-government into a stable independence.

Such a framework would, of course, have to be discussed at a constitutional conference and I should be ready to hold such a conference in the first quarter of next year. Because of my other commitments, the conference will have to be in London. The success of that conference will, of course, depend upon the preparations made beforehand. As a new Colonial Secretary I hope that it may be possible for me to pay a short visit to Kenya during this period of preparation to learn something of the country's problems at first hand. With the need for careful preparation in mind I urge that the present talks should continue with the specific purpose of reaching agreement, so far as that is possible, on principles on which Kenya's new constitution should be framed including the protection of property rights and the rights of minorities.

I believe that it would help these talks if I sent as soon as possible an expert in constitutional matters whose advice would be available to all the groups concerned in drawing up proposals on the form of constitution most suitable to the particular circumstances of Kenya. This I intend to do and I trust everyone will co-operate in what I believe may be a valuable step towards a successful conference.

Back to