CONSTITUTION FOR KENYA

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28435, 15 November 1957, Page 8

CONSTITUTION FOR KENYA

Africans Reject Proposal

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NAIROBI, November 13.

African-elected members of the Kenya Legislative Council issued a statement today rejecting a new Constitution for Kenya proposed by the British Colonial Secretary (Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd).

The constitution would increase African representation in the council. The African-elected members instead urged the British Government to call a constitutional conference to tackle the problems of government in Kenya. Mr Lennox-Boyd put forward the plan for a new constitution five days ago. It was approved in principle by the Europeanelected members’ organisation a day later, although they were critical of certain aspects of the plan. The new Constitution would give six additional seats to African members in the council. Africans would also provide two Ministers in the Government.

Africans opposed the old Constitution. In the Council of Ministers, it gave them only one Minister against 13 for the Europeans. They also wanted 15 more seats in the council, where they had eight representatives. The Africans finally refused to join the Council of Ministers. Five European and Asian Ministers resigned from the Council on November 7 to give Mr Lennox-Boyd a free hand in solving the crisis arising from this boycott.