Legislative Council of Kenya

The Legislative Council (LegCo) was the legislature of Kenya between 1907 and 1963.

The Legislative Council was established in 1907 in order to serve as a legislature for the East Africa Protectorate. Initially a wholly appointed body, it met for the first time in August 1907. The first elections took place in 1920, in which eleven European members were elected. Appointed members remained in the majority.

By the next elections in 1924, an addition five seats for Indians and one for Arabs had been added, although the Indian population boycotted the elections in protest at not being given parity with Europeans. Only one Indian was elected in 1927, and the Indian seats were filled from 1931 onwards. The first African was appointed to the Council in 1944.

Prior to the 1952 elections the number of European constituencies was increased to 14 and the Indian seats to six. Elections under this system were held in 1956, but supplementary elections were held in 1957 to elect eight African members for the first time.

The 1961 elections were the first to have a majority of African seats. The 65-member Council had 12 appointed members, 33 general seats and 20 reserved seats for minority communities; ten for Europeans, eight for Indians and two for Arabs. Primary elections were held for the reserved seats by members of the respective communities, and candidates receiving at least 25% of the vote advanced to the main elections, where all registered voters could vote for them.

Following the 1963 elections, the Legislative Council was replaced with the bicameral Parliament.

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