Kirinyaga County, Kenya – July 21, 2024 : A group of more than 10 armed criminals raided the Togonye Coffee Factory in Mwea East sub-county on Sunday night, injuring two night guards and making away with 26 bags of coffee cherries worth approximately KSh 1.8 million.
Watchmen Injured and Tied Up During Attack
According to Patrick Gicobi, chairman of the Urumandi Coffee Cooperative Society, the gang gained entry into the factory by cutting open the main store. They overpowered the two night watchmen, tied them up, and inflicted injuries before executing the theft.
One of the guards, Samuel Bundi, said the attackers ambushed them while he was near the water pump. “They were wielding crude weapons and overwhelmed us quickly,” Bundi told local reporters.
After tying the guards, the suspects loaded the coffee bags into a waiting lorry. The victims only managed to free themselves after the assailants had fled the scene.
Soaring Coffee Prices Blamed for Robbery
The factory’s management believes the theft may have been triggered by rising coffee prices in Kenya, which have made the commodity more attractive to criminals.
“We suspect the increasing market value of coffee is encouraging such brazen thefts,” Gicobi noted.
Rising prices have also sparked concerns across East Africa, with similar incidents reported in Uganda and Ethiopia.
Police Launch Investigation
Local police officers responded swiftly and have since opened an investigation into the robbery. Authorities are working to identify the suspects and recover the stolen produce.
The theft follows a spate of farm-related crimes reported in recent months, prompting calls for improved rural surveillance and better protection of agricultural assets.
The incident has sparked concerns among coffee farmers in Kirinyaga, who now fear for the security of their harvests during the ongoing season.
Related: Read more reports on agricultural crime in Kenya
📍 Location: Mwea East, Kirinyaga County
🗓️ Date: Sunday, July 21, 2024
