Police hold guards over coffee theft

By BONIFACE GIKANDI

MURANG’A COUNTY, KENYA: Coffee theft is yet again haunting Murang’a farmers after a gang struck Kaguya coffee factory in Kigumo District and made away with 80 bags of parchment coffee.

The gang, who travelled in a lorry, gained access into the coffee factory in what is suspected to be an inside job.

Yesterday, Kigumo OCPD John Katumo said police are holding two guards in connection with the robbery.

“The gang made away with high quality coffee and investigation has been launched. We are appealing to the public to co-operate with the police to help arrest the gang,” said Katumo.

Commercial millers

The factory is an affiliate of Kangiri coffee co-operative society in Gachocho location.

The raid came barely a week after Murang’a-based Coffee Board of Kenya (CBK) representative Samuel Mwau issued a circular to the management of co-operative societies warning them over emergence of criminal gangs specialising in coffee theft.

Mwau described the theft as an inside job planned by farmers, workers or management committee members who have connections with commercial millers.

Yesterday, farmers from Murang’a accused CBK of failing to conduct an audit that would expose the commercial millers and criminal gangs behind the racket.

Hiram Mwangi, a farmer, said the marauding gangs kill farmers’ expectations after stealing the produce for consecutive years.

“We want a forensic investigation conducted to expose those behind the robberies. This will help save farmers from losing their money,” he said.

Last week, Meru County government announced it would be processing and selling its own coffee after societies in the area partnered with the county government to boost the commodity’s marketing.

During a consultative coffee leaders meeting at Kamunde hall in Meru town, over 40 societies agreed to partner with the county government in production of Meru Coffee, which they will also package and market locally and internationally.