Sessional Paper No.39 of 1955/1956 on the Report of the Commissioner Appointed to Enquire into Methods for the Selection of African Representatives to the Legislative Council

Abstract

In the Statement of Policy attached to the Secretary of State’s proposals of 9th March, 1954, it was agreed that during the period up to 1956, the Government will initiate a study, in which Africans will play a prominent part, of the best method of choosing African Members of the Legislative Council. In February, 1955, Mr. W. F. Coutts, C.M.G., M.B.E., was appointed to investigate and advise on the best system or systems to be adopted in choosing African Representative Members for the Legislative Council in Kenya, bearing in mind the differences that may exist between the various areas, and also to draw up any draft rules that may be necessary to authorize the suggested procedure. In Part I of this Paper are set out the views of the Government on these matters. Part II contains a comparative examination of the recommendations made by the Commissioner (vide Part V of the report) and the form in which these recommendations have been accepted by the Government. Part III contains a comparative examination of the schedule of qualifications set out in Appendix V of the report and the schedules of qualifications which the Government proposes to adopt.