To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will instigate a public inquiry into the conduct of the British colonial administration in Kenya during the 1950s emergency; what representations her Department has received on the treatment of Kenyans by the British colonial administration in this period from (a) (i) governments and (ii) citizens of Kenya and (b) others; and if she will make a statement. (111258)

We have no plans to instigate a public inquiry into events during the emergency period in the 1950s in Kenya. We have received no formal representations on this issue from other governments, Kenyan citizens or any other individuals. We have received correspondence on Mau Mau related issues from members of the public over the years, reflecting a wide range of views.

I understand the strong feelings that the Mau Mau issue still creates in Kenya and elsewhere. The emergency period caused a great deal of pain for many on all sides and marred progress towards independence. It is regrettable this was not achieved without violence.

We are looking to the future. The task now is to tackle today's challenges—building a strong and prosperous democracy in Kenya and fighting corruption and poverty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Kenyan Government on (a) compensation and (b) an apology for those affected by torture and degrading treatment by the British colonial administration during the 1950s Kenyan emergency; and if she will make a statement. (111302)

The Kenyan Government have not raised these issues with us and we have had no discussions with them on the subject. The events surrounding the Mau Mau insurgency remain a deeply divisive issue within Kenya and one which historians continue to debate.

The important issue now is for both our countries to look to the future and build on our existing strong partnership in the interests of Kenya’s long-term development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will issue an apology to the Kenyan victims of (a) torture and (b) victims of degrading treatment by the British colonial authorities during the 1950s Kenyan emergency; and if she will make a statement. (111329)

I understand the strong feelings that the Mau Mau issue still creates in Kenya and elsewhere. The events surrounding the Mau Mau insurgency remain a deeply divisive issue within Kenya and one which historians continue to debate. The emergency period caused a great deal of pain for many on all sides and marred progress towards independence. It is regrettable this was not achieved without violence.

We are looking to the future. The task now is to tackle today’s challenges—building a strong and prosperous democracy in Kenya and fighting corruption and poverty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will offer compensation to those Kenyan victims of (a) torture and (b) degrading or inhuman treatment by the British colonial authorities during the 1950s Kenyan emergency; and if she will make a statement. (111330)

The Government have no plans to offer compensation to those affected by the events of the emergency period in Kenya in the 1950s.

I understand the strong feelings that the Mau Mau issue still creates in Kenya and elsewhere. The emergency period caused a great deal of pain for many on all sides and marred progress towards independence. It is regrettable this was not achieved without violence.

We are looking to the future. The task now is to tackle today’s challenges—building a strong and prosperous democracy and fighting corruption and poverty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of the number of Kenyans unlawfully (a) tortured, (b) imprisoned, (c) subjected to degrading and inhumane treatment and (d) killed during the 1950s Kenyan emergency; what estimate she has made of the number who died as a result; and if she will make a statement; (111331)

We have made no estimates in relation to the alleged abuses outlined in my hon. Friend’s questions. All records dating back to that period were either passed to the Kenyan Government at independence or have been subsequently transferred to the national archive in Kew.

The emergency period in the 1950s was a very difficult period for all involved. We are now working with the Kenyan Government to tackle today’s challenges—building a strong and prosperous democracy and fighting corruption and poverty in Kenya.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what records have been kept of the number of Kenyans who died of disease during their detention without trial during the Kenyan emergency of the 1950s; and if she will make a statement; (111336)

All records dating back to the emergency period in Kenya in the 1950s were either passed to the Kenyan Government at independence or have been subsequently transferred to the national archive in Kew.