General elections were held in Kenya Colony on 2 April 1924.[1] The elections were the first under a new Constitution which saw suffrage extended to Indians and Arabs, who were allotted five and one elected seat in the Legislative Council respectively, alongside the eleven elected seats for the white population, although appointed members were still the majority.[2] Whilst all adult Indian residents were given the right to vote, in the Arab community only men literate in Arabic or Swahili and resident in the country for two years were enfranchised, as the community had requested that women not be given the right to vote.[2] One member was appointed to represent the majority black population.[3]

The Reform Party was one of the parties to contest the election in the white community.[4]

Results

Despite their enfranchisement, the Indian community boycotted the election after their leaders forbade registration in protest at being placed on a separate roll to the White voters and the small number of seats given to Indians relative to Whites.[4][3] As a result no Indians took their seats in the Council.[5]

European seats
Constituency Candidate Votes % Notes
CoastRobert Robertson-EustaceUnopposedRe-elected
KenyaReginald Berkeley ColeUnopposedRe-elected
KikuyuWalter MacLellan WilsonUnopposedElected
LakeConway HarveyUnopposedRe-elected
MombasaPercival ClarkeElected
Alexander Morrison
Nairobi NorthHamilton WardUnopposedRe-elected
Nairobi SouthHelmuth SchwartzeElected
James Riddell
Thomas WoodDefeated
Plateau NorthJohn ConeyUnopposedRe-elected
Plateau SouthThomas O'SheaElected
George Cruickshank Griffiths
Rift ValleyHugh CholmondeleyUnopposedRe-elected
UkambaWilliam Northrup McMillanUnopposedRe-elected
Arab seat
Hamed Mohamed bin IssaUnopposedElected
Source: Kenya Gazette,[1] Hansard[6]

Appointed members

Position Member
Ex officio members
Attorney GeneralRobert William Lyall Grant
Chief Native CommissionerGerald Verner Maxwell
Colonial SecretaryEdward Brandis Denham
Commissioner of CustomsEdgar George Bale
Commissioner of LandsHumphrey Trice Martin
Director of AgricultureErnest Harrison
Director of Public WorksHoward Lecky Sikes
Principal Medical OfficerJohn Langton Gilks
TreasurerReginald Clifton Grannum
Uganda Railway General ManagerGodfrey Dean Rhodes
Appointed officials
Chief Veterinary OfficerA G Doherty
Conservator of ForestsEdward Battiscombe
Director of EducationJames Russell Orr
Director of Land SurveysArthur George Baker
Lilawi for the CoastAli bin Salim
Officer Commanding TroopsJ M Llewellyn
Postmaster GeneralThomas Fitzgerald
Senior Commissioner, KikuyuJohn Owen Webley Hope
Senior Commissioner, NairobiFrancis Stuart Forbes Traill
Solicitor GeneralIvan Llewlleyn Owen Gower
Appointed unofficial members
Member to represent African interestsJohn Arthur
Source: Hansard[7]

Aftermath

The newly elected Legislative Council met for the first time on 14 May 1924.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Government Notice No. 94", Kenya Gazette, 18 March 1924, pp6–8
  2. 1 2 "Kenya Franchise: New Constitution Adopted", The Times, 5 January 1924, p9, Issue 43541
  3. 1 2 "Kenya Franchise Swaraj Agitators At Work; White Settlers' Views" The Times, 8 February 1924, p9, Issue 43570
  4. 1 2 "Kenya Elections: European Candidates' Programme" The Times, 27 March 1924, p13, Issue 43611
  5. ↑ "Indian Boycott Of Kenya Legislature", The Times, 24 April 1924, p11, Issue 43634
  6. 1 2 Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard) 1924, Session I
  7. ↑ Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard) 1924, Session II
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