Ostrich Breeding and the Kenyan Legislative Council, 1907-1915

Extract

Recently it was my privilege to examine the minutes of the Legislative Council, or LEGCO, of the East African Protectorate. This council began its deliberations in August 1907 and after a long series of historical developments eventually evolved into the present legislature of the Republic of Kenya. When I first approached the minutes for the earliest years of LEGCO'S existence, it was with many questions in my mind as well as something of the excitement with which one might open a new mystery story. Granted that this first council was entirely appointed or nominated; granted there were only Europeans sitting on it; granted the official majority prevented the unofficial members from determining policy. Granting all that, this LEGCO was a small step forward from rule by the Governor and Executive Council only. With the addition of elected members after World War I, a gradual expansion of the institution could take place until Mr. Kenyatta could take his seat as Prime Minister. What did those first members want in the way of legislation? What did the LEGCO, the proto-ancestor of the present-day Kenya National Assembly, regard as important business in 1907?

With these and other questions in my mind, I read with some surprise that one of the first bills proposed and eventually passed in the LEGCO was an ordinance to provide licensing for ostrich farmers. I was not prepared for anything so exotic as this and read this bill and its subsequent amendments with keen interest.