Alarm as Sh100m coffee stolen from factories in Nyeri

Coffee worth more than Sh100 million has been stolen from factories in Nyeri County, in a scheme police blame on administrators and managers.

Forty bags were stolen from the Ndima-ini factory in Mathira East on Saturday night.

According to Karatina police boss Matthew Gwiyo, a group of men broke into the factory around 9pm.

The gang cut a fence to gain entry into the premises.

Two watchmen who were guarding the place at the time of the raid have been arrested over the theft.

The watchmen said the thieves tied them up, then proceeded to the stores.

They said the criminals packed the coffee into bags before they made away with the loot.

Both guards, however, said they could not identify members of the gang or how many they were.

FAILED TO RAISE ALARM

They also said they failed to raise the alarm early.

“We are holding the watchmen as suspects and they will be charged with failing to prevent a felony,” said Mr Gwiyo.

The number of coffee theft cases in the county continues to rise.

The thieves, who terrorise farmers, are targeting parchment coffee (unhulled one) only.

The more than 4,000 bags of coffee have been stolen from factory stores at night and ferried elsewhere in lorries.

The latest incident was the one at the Ndima-ini factory.

Police suspect the thefts are inside jobs as there is never any sign of forced entry into any of the factories targeted.

“We suspect that people affiliated to the factories are involved,” said Nyeri County Administration Police Commander Njue Njagi.

Rukira and Ichamama factories in Othaya and the Gititu factory in Tetu Sub-County have been hit, with 252 bags stolen from the stores.

REPOSSESS VEHICLES

Other factories targeted in recent weeks are Ndurutu, Kiamariga and Tekangu, from where coffee worth more than Sh10 million was stolen.

Over 300 bags have been stolen in the last one week alone.

Governor Nderitu Gachagua earlier September threatened to repossess vehicles donated to the police by the county government, saying the officers had failed to curb theft of the produce.

But the police have defended themselves, saying they are working around the clock to end the vice.

They called for cooperation from the factory staff.

Mr Njagi said a number of security guards had been questioned over the thefts.