MAUDLING IN KENYA

Press, Volume C, Issue 29682, 28 November 1961, Page 26

MAUDLING IN KENYA

Welcome And Protests

(N.Z.P. A. -Reuter —Copyright) ELDORET (North-west Kenya), Nov. 26. Riot squads of African police went into action twice today to deal with demonstrating crowds during the visit of the Colonial Secretary (Mr Reginald Maudling' to the White Highland area of north-west Kenya. They were first used to clear several thousand excited, good humoured demonstrators from the runway of Eldoret Airport. Later, outside the town hall where Mr Maudling was meeting representatives of white farmers, riot police again moved in to separate rival African party demonstrators and prevent a clash. On both occasions the police quickly restored order without using force. Mr Maudling’s visit to Eldoret is part of a 500-mile aeroplane and Landrover tour of north-west Kenya. He is making a 16-day visit to Kenya and the Rhodesian Federation, his first overseas trip as Colonial Secretary. Spear-carrying warriors staged a slow, stamping, tribal march to horn blowing, drum beating and rhythmic chants, to welcome Mr Maudling at the airport. In the town more than 500 flag and banner-waring supporters of Jomo Kenyatta’s Kenya African National Union s demonstrated outside the town hall. Mr Maudling wag inside the hall, hearing the views of British and South African farmers on land policy and general security needs. A riot squad relieved an ugly situation when a group of supporters of the Kenyan K.A.N.U.’s rivals—returning from the airport, ran into a group of K.A.N.U. demonstrators. Women fled as minor scuffles broke out between the two groups, but the police intervened swiftly and restored order without using their batons.