Annual report on the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya / Colonial Office.

  • Great Britain. Colonial Office.
Date:
[1946]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya / Colonial Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    16/110 (page 14)
    PART I (A) Account of Important Matters of General Interest occurring during the Year THE year 1946 was one of readjustment, during which the greater part of the Colony’s manpower which had served in the armed forces was being demobilised and reabsorbed, and the country was changing over from war-time to peacetime economy. It was also a year of planning for post-war development and welfare, the progress of which is described in section (b). POLITICAL From the political point of view the subject which attracted most attention during the year was the proposal outlined in Colonial Paper 191 that the East African territories should have a common Legislature for those services common to the three territories, such as railways, customs, posts and telegraphs, for matters affecting commerce and industry and for other services, especially statistical and scientific, which may be established in the future. Although the principle met with general approval, it was soon clear that the basis of representation was not acceptable to all communities. The matter was under review at the end of the year, with the object of providing fresh proposals which might be more favourably received. The question of increased African representation was considered by Government, and, although it was agreed that there was a necessity for greater representation, no definite changes were made in 1946. During the year, however, an African was nominated to take the place of the European representing African interests while he was on leave, so that for the first time two Africans sat on Legislative Council. Two African Councillors were also appointed to the Nairobi Municipal Council. A Member for Health and Local Government was appointed as part of a reorganisation of the administration of Health and Local Government, and it was decided that a Local Government Board should be established under his chairmanship to direct and supervise the activities of all local authorities, urban and rural, including Local Native Councils. In addition, a draft African District Councils Bill was prepared and con¬ sidered by Local Native Councils, whereby the present Local Native Councils will be given additional powers and their procedure and con¬ stitution brought more into line with the practice of other Local Govern¬ ment bodies in the Colony. In accordance with the accepted policy of Government and of the Secretary of State, that Africans should be afforded greater opportunities of participating in the administration of the Colony, five African Assistant Administrative Officers were appointed for service in the Nyanza Province, and one for service in the Central Province.