The Commission's findings were largely as had been anticipated, but the report contained one phrase which was particularly disquieting to Somali nationalists. This was that evidence had been collected 'on the premise that there can be no question of secession before Kenya gets independence'. This assumption derived, apparently, from the Commissioners' confidential instructions. It was not included in the previous Colonial Secretary's announcement of the decision to set up the Commission made at the Kenya conference, and it appeared to be in conflict with the undertaking given then that a decision would be taken before Kenya became independent. Whatever might be thought of the British government's conduct of the whole issue, this direction to the Commission seemed to imply a definite hardening of opinion against the Somali desire for secession.

I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Som…, loc. 476