By Boniface Gikandi
Coffee farmers in Central Kenya have a new headache as the harvest season sets in.
Just as their venture starts picking up after being bogged down by debts, the farmers have now to contend with increased cases of theft.
The increased demand of coffee in the international market seems to have contributed to the theft in factories across the region.
The thefts appear to be the work of a well co-ordinated cartel that is ready to make a kill at the expense of the hard working farmers.
The most affected areas are Murang’a, Nyeri, Kiambu and Kirinyaga counties.
security concerns
Coffee theft has caused security concerns and farmers are now demanding that police intensify patrols in areas near processing factories.
The thieves have been sneaking into coffee drying beds at night, targeting berries that are being fermented in tanks.
Consequently, farmers are accusing the regulator, Coffee Board of Kenya, of failing to enforce the ban of produce at night.
As a result of the increased cases of coffee theft, farmers in Kandara and Kigumo in Murang’a County have been forced to guard factories at night.
The most recent incident occurred at Kanunga Coffee Factory in Kiambu last week where a watchman was hacked to death after a 10-man gang drove into the factory taking away more than 5,000kg of parchment coffee.
Thefts have been reported at Kanunga, Gathaiti, Gachirago, Kangocho, Mitondo, Ichagaki, Ruona, Ng’wethe, Kamahuha and Saba Saba coffee factories.
Late last year, Kigetu-ini coffee factory reported a loss of coffee worth Sh800,000.
Only 74 bags of coffee were recovered in December through efforts of Murang’a East DC George Natembeya after he was tipped about a theft at Karichiungu factory.
