African Calls For Kenyatta’s Release

Press, Volume C, Issue 29480, 5 April 1961, Page 15

African Calls For Kenyatta’s Release

fN.Z .PA .-Reuter—Copyright) NAIROBI, April 3, The British Colonial Secretary (Mr Macleod) said today it was the Governor of Kenya’s duty not to release Jomo Kenyatta until the law-and-order position was met.

During a two-hour stop In Nairobi on his way from Tanganyika to Aden he was asked whether he had in mind an eventual date for removing restrictions on Kenyatta, the convicted manager of Mau Mau. He rejected the idea that the matter should be approached by finding facesaving formulas, and reaffirmed that the establishment of a Kenya Government was a prerequisite for law and order. Asked whether it was intended to implement the new Constitution without African support If necessary, he replied: "1 don’t know. That situation has not arisen yet." The president of the Kenya African National Union, Mr James Gichuru, said after talking with Mr Macleod today that “complete deadlock” had been reached on the question of Kenyatta’s release. "We have made it very clear to Mr Macleod that we will not participate to the Government until he is released." Mr Gichuru said. Mr Macleod saw members of both the KA.N.U. and it* rival party, the Kenya African Democratic Union, as well as the New Kenya Party and the Asian parties. The K-A.N.U. secretarygeneral, Mr Tom Mboya. asked Mr Macleod in a letter today to pension off "certain officials” who “have never lost an opportunity to paint the blackest picture of our leader,” Kenyatta. He called for Kenyatta's unconditional release and tor granting of a new constitution.