St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-04-10
KenYo Suspends
NctiVe Pepper
Editor Reports

are far from satisfied that it can
not happen again.
For instance last week the gov
eminent ordered the suspension
of publication of the newspaper
that speaks for the party headed
by Tom Mboya, when I talked to
him Tuesday he had just issued
an open letter to the governor pro-
testing angrily the ''Repressive
Measures" and the clumsy in
justice" Of the government.
In his letter Mr.. Mboya made
the following statement-"UHU-
RUS prescription is a deliberate
attempt to silence all legitimate
African expression and a deliber-
ate invasion of freedom of the
press. Not only has UHRU been
prescribed, but the government
has also rejected DR.. Kiano's ap-
plication for a printing license on
the ground that he is likely to use
the press for purposes prejudic-
ial to public peace and good order.
Thus we need not commit any
offense to be prescribed. The gov
ernment's mind predetermined and
we are guilty unless we prove 9TH
erwise"
This Dr. Kiano was referred to
at some length in a recent article
on Africa published in LIFE Mag
azine, as one of the moderates of
the Nationalist movement in AZ
RIGA. LIFE said:
ON the African side the
voice Of moderation comes from
a crucial quarter the Kikuyu.
The voice, which has an Amer
iian accent is that Of DR.. Elk
onyo Kiano, a Kikuyu who re-
turned in 1856 from eight years
of studying and teaching poll
teal science in the U. S. ANTI
och College, Stamford and the
University of California;.
Elected to one of the new
African seats in the (Kenya-
legislative council he was rapid
eddy become the most influential
politician among the Kikuyu. a
fact doubly advantageous for
hopes of moderation. He is a
bulwark against the revival Of
the Mau Mau spirit among his
own people. a revival that might
conceivably be touched off by
Jomo Kenyatta's scheduled re-
lease from prison next year He
is also a level headed man with
no objection to having a multi
racial government and with the
patience to wait for fair solu-
tons to be worked out. AS the
leading Kikuyu he is in a posi-
ton not only to give Mboya ad-
vice but to make him listen. In
fact there is speculation that
Kiano may eventually even take
over the National leadership
from Mboya. whose tribe, the
LUO, has additionally been dis
liked and looked down upon by
the Kikuyu and their allies.
Here in Cairo I caught up with
the March Is issue of the London
Times. published the day before
Mr.. Mboya issued his protest. In
a long editorial dealing with the
Kenya situation The Times refers
to the measures taken by the gov
eminent as certainly distastefuP'
and viewed by themselves, they
are a step back and not a step
forward" It states:
Certainly it would be danger
GUS to allow the present dead
lock to continue much longer.
Kenya has made a remarkable
recovery from the Mau Mau en-
Urgency. But a secondary infec-
ton from Mau Mau emanating
from Nairobi, has spread out
wards. The country is at the
balancing point and could easily
be swung one way or the other"
Mr.. Mboya and his political
party is asking for complete I'M
dependence for Kenya and control
of the government by the ma
jority, which of course is over
whelmingly African. But it is sig
nificant that this independence is
not asked for Immediately. The
Africans are asking for their in
dependence gradually but they in
sist that a definite date be fixed
when that independence viii be
complete.
This the British government has
refused to do. They have talked
about steadily increasing conces-
sions to the Africans but they have
insisted on continuing control. My
guess is that in Kenya as else
where in Africa the natives will
soon have the independence they
seek.
CONTINUED Next Weekly