HC Deb 20 December 1962 vol 669 cc243-4W
Dr. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies When the Report of the Kenya Regional Boundaries Commission and the Report of the Kenya Northern Frontier District Commission are to be published; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Fisher

The Report of the Commission appointed last July to delimit regional boundaries is being published today as a Command paper.

The Kenya Council of Ministers has studied this Report and has submitted with unanimous agreement the small variations of its findings which are set out in detail at the end of this statement. My right hon. Friend has accepted the variations, and accordingly the Council of Ministers has asked that he should arrange for the boundaries delimited by the Commission, and varied by recommendations of the Council of Ministers, to be given legal effect in the new Constitution.

The Report of the Commission appointed to ascertain public opinion in the Northern Frontier District regarding the future of the area is also being published today as a Command paper. The implications of this Report are being studied, and a further statement will be issued as soon as possible.

The agreed variations are as follows:

  1. (i) the whole of the Bahati Forest should be included in the Rift Valley Region and not in the Central Region;
  2. (ii) the southern boundary of the Western Region should follow the main road (Eldoret to Uganda) from where it joins the boundary proposed by the Commission, instead of following the Kipkarren River;
  3. (iii) the whole of the Isiolo Native Leasehold Area should be included in the Eastern Region.