LONDON: The British Government is said to be considering new restrictions on Commonwealth immigration to check the flow into this country of near 400,000 holders of British passports of Asian origin in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and elsewhere.

The threat of new legislation to curb immigration has stepped up the flight of Asians, mostly Hindus from Kenya. Flights from Nairobi to London are said to be booked for weeks. There are 200,000 Asians in Kenya who took British nationality and who now find their livelihood threatened by Africanisation of jobs.

Muslims in Kenya, notably members of the Ismailia sect, took Kenya nationality on the orders of the Aga Khan and they are at present not affected by Government moves to oust non-Kenyans from jobs and business concerns.

When the flood of Kenya-Asians began, they were described as “fleeing Kenya–Pakistanis” by the “Times”, “Evening Standard” and some other British newspapers. Such tendentious headlines were dropped, however, after protests by the Pakistan High Commission in London.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2018