ELECTION WIN TO KENYATTA

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30143, 29 May 1963, Page 15

ELECTION WIN TO KENYATTA

Kenya Constitution May Be Altered

(N.Z.P.A-Reuter —Copyright)

NAIROBI, May 28.

Mr Jomo Kenyatta’s Kenya African National Union has won the Kenya General Election and observers believe his victory heralds drastic changes in the Constitution agreed on earlier this year with Britain’s Colonial Secretary 7.

KA.N.CJ. leaders earlier promised to concentrate power in a central Government and amend the Constitution, which provided for a devolution of powers to the country’s seven regions after independence.

The rival Kenya African Democratic Union favours this regionalism, but K.A.N.U., which calls it “tribalism,” claims regionalism is unworkable and expensive and would result in a multiplication of administrative jobs throughout the country. K.A.N.U. had won a simple majority in the 117-seat House of Representatives when counting ended last night. K.A.N.U. had 58 seats, K.A.D.U. 28, African People’s Party 6, and Independents 5. A K.A.N.U official said four Independents had promised to declare themselves in favour of K.A.N.U.

The position in the 38-seat Senate at the end of counting yesterday was:—K A.N.U. 11, K.A.DU 9, Independents 2. In the Regional Assemblies, K.A.N.U. had 60 seats, K.A.D.U. 29. and Independents 4. Final results will be known today.

Mr Kenyatta’s victory means that K.A.N.U. will lead Kenya into full independence some time next year. His African Government is expected to declare Kenya a republic some time after independence but remain within the Commonwealth. He is expected to hold his first Cabinet meeting on Friday. Socialist Principles

In a victory message in Nairobi last night, Mr Kenyatta pledged that a K.A.N.U. Government would be guided in its task by “the principles of democratic African-social-ism. We shall build a country where every citizen may develop his talents to the full, restricted only by the larger aim we have of building a fair society,” he said. “The rights of all and of their property will be fully protected. There will be no privileges for any minority. “Equally we shall see that no member of any group undergoes discrimination or oppression at the hands of the majority,” Mr Kenyatta said. “The African people of Kenya have suffered under the yoke of colonialism. But now we are throwing off that burden we do not look to the

past . . ~” he said. “Let us look instead to the new Kenya we are to create where men and women of all colours, castes and creeds will work joyfully together in unity.” - In an interview recorded for the 8.8. C. and shown in Britain last night, Mr Kenyatta was asked by the •commentator, Robin Day, whether Kenya would stay in the Commonwealth if his party came to power. He replied: “Exactly, yes.” “As a republic?” he was asked. “Yes,” he replied firmly. Mr Kenyatta, known to his fellow Kikuyu tribesmen as “Burning Spear,” is regarded by many as the father of African nationalism. He has played a leading part in Kenya politics since his release ' from restriction in August, 1961. Mr Kenyatta, who is “about 65,” lived under restriction from April, 1959, after serving five and a half years of a seven-year prison sentence imposed in 1953 for managing Mau Mau, the anti-white secret society. Within a few months of his release he had accepted the presidency of K.A.N.U., headed a Kenya delegation for talks in London, and been returned unopposed to the Kenya Legislative Council. After another visit to London in February, 1962, for more talks on the future of Kenya, he became Kenya’s Minister of State for Con-, stitutional Affairs and Economic Development.

He was about 10 when he presented himself as an orphan of a medicine man at the Church of Scotland mission at Fort Hall. He was baptised Johnstone and learned carpentry. In 1928 he became secretary of the Kikuyu Central Association, and made his first visit to Britain the following year.

He lived in Britain from 1933 to 1948. He studied anthropology at London University, and later adopted the name of Kenyatta.