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The independence constitution (1960-1962): the first and second Lancaster House conference

Answer Text:
The independence constitution (1960-1962)
The first Lancaster House Conference (1960)
-Attended by all members of LEGCO and two nominated members, the conference received the following demands;
a) Africans demanded for true democracy, where one man would have one vote.
b) The Arabs wanted to retain the ten-mile coastal strip, while Somalis wanted reunification with Somalia.
c) Michael Blundell, representing a section of Europeans demanded for a multi-racial government while Captain Briggs representing the white extremists demanded for creation of provinces along racial lines.
-All these proposals were moderated by the British government
-The period after the first Lancaster House conference witnessed a lot of differences among Africans and among other races.
- Among the Africans, the differences culminated into the formation of KANU in March 1960 at Kiambu with James Gichuru as president and KADU in Ngong Town with Ronald Ngala as the president.
The second Lancaster House conference (1962).
-When KANU refused to form government despite winning the elections, demanding for the release of Jomo Kenyatta, KADU formed a rather minority government that was heavily
dominated by the colonial officials.
-Such a government was rejected by most people thus creating instability that led to the British Authorities calling for the second Lancaster House Conference.
-The following important issues were discussed;
a) The future of the coastal strip that belonged to the sultan prior to colonialism.
b) The future of North Eastern Province (North Frontier District)
c) Security of the minority.
-The participants in the formulation of the independence constitution were representatives of various political parties: - Paul Ngei (APP), KADU and KANU. -Others were representatives of the Asian and European communities.
The third and final conference in 1963 resulted in the drafting and adoption of Kenya's first independent Constitution by the British Parliament.
-The 1963 constitution established a parliamentary
system with executive powers vested in a cabinet headed by a Prime Minister.
-The Queen of England remained Head of State.