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East Africa High Commission

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The East Africa High Commission (EAHC) was an international organisation which existed between 1 January 1948 and 9 December 1961 with the intention of providing common services to the British-administered Uganda, Kenya and Tanganyika.[1] It superseded the East Africa Governors' Conference and was later replaced by the East African Common Services Organization (EACSO).[2] The EACSO in turn was replaced by the first East African Community in 1967.

History

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During the Second World War, the British Governors of Uganda, Kenya and Tanganyika established several regional boards to help coordinate the war effort.[1] Immediately after the end of the war, the British Government published "proposals for the future management of the inter-territorial services in East Africa", with revised proposals following in 1947.[1][3] These resulted in the East Africa (High Commission) Order in Council 1947, which came into effect on 1 January 1948.[1] The purpose of the High Commission was to create a single executive authority with competence in certain areas, without otherwise affecting the constitutional status of Uganda, Kenya and Tanganyika.[1] It would be supported by an accompanying legislature (the Central Legislative Assembly).[1] The 1947 proposals were received badly in Uganda, particularly in Buganda, where the Bataka Party drew successfully on fears that the High Commission would be a supergovernment controlled by Europeans.[3] The creation of the High Commission thereby contributed to the 1949 riots, during which 1,724 Bugandans were arrested.[4]

The High Commission comprised the Governors of the three territories and met two or three times a year under the chairmanship of the Governor of Kenya.[1][5] It administered, among other things, the postal network, telecommunications, railways and ports, and oversaw the collection of certain taxes.[1][6] Decisions were taken by unanimity.[6] The secretariat was based in Nairobi and composed almost entirely of British civil servants.[1] The High Commission was responsible for a number of subordinate bodies (including the East African Railways and Harbours Corporation and the East African Posts and Telecommunications Administration), indirectly employing 21,000 people.[6] In 1960 the expenditures of these bodies totalled 125 million dollars.[6]

In June 1961, during the process of decolonisation, representatives of Uganda, Kenya and Tanganyika met in London.[1] They agreed to the creation of the East African Common Services Organization (EACSO), which could provide a similar function to the High Commission following decolonisation.[1] The High Commission was formally replaced by EACSO[2] (which was also headquartered in Nairobi)[7] on 9 December 1961 when Tanganyika became the first of the three East African territories to become independent.[2]

Central Legislative Assembly

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The East Africa (High Commission) Order in Council 1947 also created an East Africa Central Legislative Assembly.[1] The Assembly comprised the principal executive officers of the High Commission, together with a number of nominated and unofficial members representing the legislatures of the Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika.[8] Legislation passed by the Assembly applied directly across the three territories.[8]

List of speakers

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See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to East Africa High Commission.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Banfield 1963, pp. 181–193.
  2. ^ a b c Ramolefe & Sanders 1972, pp. 42–55.
  3. ^ a b Apter 1961, pp. 256–257.
  4. ^ Apter 1961, pp. 257–261.
  5. ^ Gladden 1963, pp. 428–439.
  6. ^ a b c d Birmingham 1969, p. 415.
  7. ^ The Territorial Incidence of the East African Common Services
  8. ^ a b Colonial Office 1961, p. 3.

References

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Primary sources

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  • Colonial Office (12 December 1945). Inter-territorial organisation in East Africa (PDF). Colonial. Vol. 191. London: H.M. Stationery Office.
  • Colonial Office (5 March 1947). Inter-territorial organisation in East Africa: revised proposals (PDF). Colonial. Vol. 210. London: H.M. Stationery Office.
  • Colonial Office (11 July 1961). The Future of East Africa High Commission Services (PDF). Command. Vol. 1433. London: H.M. Stationery Office.

Secondary sources

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