By Boniface Gikandi
The mention of Nguthuru makes many motorists on the Nairobi-Nyeri highway shudder with fear. Here, armed gangs often waylay and rob motorists.
Nguthuru has been identified as a black spot of crime and visitors are often warned to be vigilant. Government officials, envoys and Members of Parliament have fallen victim to the gangs.
Armed with machetes and other dangerous weapons, a gang of more than 15 is on the loose. Despite a heavy presence of guards , they raid farms at night and take off with tonnes of ripe pineapples. Residents claim the thieves collude with some of the guards.
Kenol, located along Thika-Murang’a road, was once a vibrant market. The Government banned selling of pineapples at the market to protect the nearby Del Monte pineapple farms from habitual raids.
The move has since crippled the small businesses at Kenol, Kabati and Sambuka markets. Security guards and Administration police patrol the area regularly.
Confiscated pineapples
Early this month some youth, backed by Administration Police, confiscated more than 10 bags of fresh pineapples from a Del Monte employee. Crimes in the area have some times hit national headlines. There have been cases of Del Monte guards unleashing dogs on people caught stealing pineapples.
In mid-December last year, three people were arrested by guards for allegedly trying to steal pineapples. However, Mr Samuel Maina (39), Mr David Njuguna (22) and Mr Jackson Gathogo (17) said they were on the farm to cut grass for their animals.
They claim the guards unleashed dogs on them and then transported them to company offices, where they were severely beaten and dumped in a coffee farm at Mukeu. Good Samaritans took them to Thika District Hospital.
"This time round they will not go scot-free. We must seek legal redress," says Maina.
Njuguna, who was discharged from Kenyatta National Hospital last week, says his vision has been affected following the beating. He completed Form Four at the nearby Karigu-ini Secondary School two years ago.
One of the worst incidents occurred a week ago when a suspected pineapple thief was burnt alive in his house in Sambuka village.
Boniface Ngige’s house was torched over suspicions that it haboured stolen property.
Due to rampant pineapple theft, Del Monte funded the construction of an Administration Police camp at Nguthuru.
Theft a big concern
Kandara District Officer Alfred Manduku says pineapple theft is a big concern.
Murang’a South District Officer 1 George Onyango says several meetings have been held with residents to address security issues.
"We are investigating what could be collusion between some of the Del Monte guards and the thieves," says the administrator.
Councillor Solomon Karuri wonders how the thieves execute their missions despite the tight security on the farm.
"How can thieves flee from guards on horse back, backed by feared dogs?" poses Karuri.
