New Hope in Kenya
By T. R. M. CREIGHTON
MR. LENNOX-BOYD deserves praise for the friendly reception he gave the delegation of the Organisation of Constituency Elected Mem- bers of the Kenya Legislature—members elected by direct suffrage. The Organisation has the support of all African, Asian and Arab mem- bers and of one European member, Mr. Shirley Cooke, who has a long record of service as a DC. It cannot be a political party because of the continued State of Emergency (a memorial to Mau Mau, but now a governmental con- venience rather than a security need). If it were, it would be a formidable and imposing one with a fair claim to represent six million people (for there is no reason to believe that Africans as yet unenfranchised would vote differently from those that are). It is the sign of a new-found lofty be- tween the non-European communities; and it is to be hoped that it points the way to a recognition by Kenya Europeans, too, that the true interests of the country and all its inhabitants demand a lowering of racial barriers and an increase in non-European representation and participation in government.
The delegation, and the organisation it repre- sents, stand for complete political and social integration (which does not mean compulsory miscegenation, but equal rights and duties for all citizens); a radical revision of land distribution (which does mean the admission of African farmers to the White Highlands and an end to the system whereby 24 per cent. of the arable land of Kenya is owned by 10,000 Europeans); and the achievement of universal suffrage and an inter- racial democracy. The movement is in no sense racial and hopes to attract increasing support from moderate Europeans. Far from wishing 'to kick out the whites' the delegation gave the im- pression of having considered the problems of an inter-racial society deeply and soberly and of believing it possible to contain all the existing population in a single just and peaceful State with- out demanding undue sacrifices of any. It is a hopeful sign that Mr. Lennox-Boyd invited them to a second meeting, and sent them away not dis- satisfied (though it underlines the inconsistencies of colonial policy that while Mr. Oginga Odinga, Dr. Kiano, Mr. Nazareth and the rest were being offered sherry last week in Whitehall, Dr. Banda, Kenneth Kaunda and many others who repre- sent precisely the same current of opinion and aspiration in Central Africa were enduring deten- tion or banishment with his approval).
Last week the Secretary of State also saw Mr. Michael Blundell, whose New Kenya Group has attracted much attention. It is supported by most of the European elected members of the Legislature, government official members and the specially elected (i.e., co-opted) African members whom the Mboya-Odinga group describe as `stooges.' Blundell's aims are so close to those of the delegation that it is hard at first sight to see Why he was not with it—integration ('to move
towards nationhood and create a country'), African rights ('the full advance and development of Africans') and breaking down the present land barriers. Why do they not join forces'? Mr. Blundell appears to envisage his liberal pro- gramme's developing under European leader- ship, while the other group rejects the leader- ship of any one race. He is not able to come out boldly for direct representation and universal suffrage as an aim—the only thing Africans will support—but favours a system of electoral colleges likely to favour minorities and encourage racial division. (He was noticeably evasive about the franchise at his press conference in London.) He is not outspoken about integra- tion. His courageous stand on the land question is incurring European odium (as a stormy meeting at Kitale showed just before his departure), while his watered-down political and social proposals —and the very fact that he is supported by the African 'stooge' members of the Legislature— forfeit him an African following. Consequently his attempt to create a third force between Euro- pean domination and full representation of the people is likely to fall between two stools.
Mr. Blundell's movement is, in fact, a reaction towards European leadership against the delega- tion which preceded him, not the forthright asser- tion of a positive and practicable alternative policy. His main achievement has been to per- suade the Secretary of State that there are some Europeans prepared to go as far as he is—and perhaps farther. This is what induced the Minister to agree to a full constitutional review. Mr. Blun- dell has been the catalyst which has enabled the Minister to change his mind without losing face. But although Mr. Blundell enjoys the implied backing of the Colonial Office and the Kenya Government—with whatever advantages and disadvantages that entails in Kenya—he is more likely to lose the initiative to the more representa- tive group than to lead a wide national movement under European auspices. He should beware of becoming the Garfield Todd of Kenya, the honest reformer who destroys himself by basing his stand on paternalism and not the African vote.
Fortunately the forces at work in Kenya, where there are only about 60,000 Europeans, are differ.- ent from those in Central Africa. There is a wide division between the vocal minority of farmers, to whom the present political system gives dispropor- tionate power, and the moderate business and pro- fessional men who do not want racial tension and political strife to prevent the growth of an inte- grated society and who are beginning to command predominant social influence. They do not regard Africans as a threat to their land rights but as potential clients, patients or customers in whose ability to use the franchise they have considerable confidence. There is a good chance that some of them may join the 150,000 Asians and Arabs in throwing in their lot with the six million Africans. (One would like to hope that Mr. Blundell might advance to a position of agreement with these combined forces and lead the New Kenya Group into real national unity with them.)
Given the broadly inter-racial character of the existing Afro-Asian-Arab organisation, the calibre of its leadership and the wisdom and tolerence of its policies, moderate Europeans may find there a basis for a truly inter-racial party and, despite the appalling legacy of Mau Mau and the raffish persona of the 'typical Kenya settler' (a dying species today), Kenya may become the first racially integrated self-governing Common- wealth country.
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