Britain and Kenya’s Constitutions, 1950–1960 By Robert Maxon

Chapter 1

Introduction

Constitution making in Kenya after World War II became an increasingly important issue for British colonial policy and for Kenya’s colonial state. The establishment of a system of governance suited to the conditions of the 1950s and the constitutional means to move the colony to self-government and independence were subjects for consideration by the leadership of the colonial state and the CO as well as by leaders of political groups in Kenya. As a result of long and complicated negotiations, a series of constitutions were introduced for Kenya during the 1950s reflecting the varied interests and concerns of the British government, the colonial state in Kenya, and those of Kenya’s racially stratified and ethnically divided society. Beginning with the Lyttleton Constitution, Kenya experienced a series of constitutions aimed at improved governance and providing for a smooth transition to self-government and independence. A key characteristic of this process, so far as the British government was concerned, was the expectation that moving Kenya to independence would be accomplished over a period of many years. Also important was the priority CO attached to the development of constitutional mechanisms