‘KENYANS CONTENTED’

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30958, 14 January 1966, Page 2

‘KENYANS CONTENTED’

The Prime Minister of Kenya (Mr Kenyatta) is doing extremely well and is the

best African Prime Minister on the African continent, according to Mr Alfred Johansen and his wife, Nora, who have a 2000acre farm at Makuyu, 35 miles from Nairobi. Kenya was running smoothly under Mr Kenyatta and the people were happy, they said. “He seems to be able to manage his people and has the foresight to see that revolution would not help the country,” said Mrs Johansen.

Mr Kenyatta’s Government was faced with major problems—African unemployment and poverty, education, and the welding of more than 40 tribes into a unified country. The unemployment problem had worsened with the decreasing white population. Since independence two years ago, about 20,000 Europeans had left the country, and many house-servants were without jobs. “It's much easier to get servants today than it was.” said Mrs Johansen. She said

she employed a cook, two houseboys and a laundryman, or dhobi who had been with her for 30 years. The Government employed as many persons as possible building roads and on other public works, she said. Many

farmers had had to leave, as their farms were wanted for African farmers. “The Africans do mixed farming. In our area, the main crops are coffee and sisal,” said Mrs Johansen. Their farm grew pineapples, coffee and other fruits and they also ran dairy cows. Mr Johansen went to Kenya from Norway 61 years ago. His wife, who is English, has been there for 36 years. They hope to be able to remain. “The long-term policy is to have Kenya for the Africans,” said Mr Johansen. “The native population is increasing and will ultimately need the land.”

When he arrived in Kenya there were about two million Africans, said Mr Johansen. Now there were about eight million. Birth control was unknown, polygamy practised and little could be done to stop the birth-rat.e increase. The white population could be expected to decrease further, as Africans became advanced enough to replace whites in responsible posts. Those working for the public good, such as missionaries and teachers, were encouraged to stay. All the European schools had become multi-racial, but many were closed when the whites left and several re-

mained closed because the Africans could not pay the fees. Free education had been promised but there was not enough money to implement it "When independence came, the people thought they would no longer have to pay rates and very little was paid. Consequently, there is not enough money to pay teachers and many have left,” said Mrs Johansen. The Government had, however, been able to provide free medicine, she said.

Kenya had an Indian population of about 200,000. “Most of the retail and food shops are run by Indians and many owners have had to take in African partners,” said Mrs Johansen.

No attempt had yet been made to start game farming. The Africans preferred to run cattle. Most, however, recognised the importance of the game reserves to the national economy.

Television had been established in Kenya about four years ago. About 75 per cent of the programmes—talks, plays, and educational features—were in Swahili. Many of the large farms and estates had special television rooms for their employees. European programmes were not screened until about 9 p.m. each evening.