The government has heightened surveillance in Mt. Kenya to curb rising cases of theft of farm produce, particularly coffee, following the crop’s return to profitability.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the theft of coffee and avocado has remained a major concern for farmers in the region.
Speaking in Nyeri during a Jukwaa la Usalama forum, he said the government, through the regional security committee, had rolled out a strategy to protect crops in coffee factories and cooperative society stores.
“Because of government interventions, there is a lot of revival in the agricultural sector. Prices of products like coffee are going up, and as a result, there are theft cases, including avocados which are doing well in this region,” said Murkomen.
He outlined measures such as escorting coffee from farms to mills and storage facilities, installing CCTV cameras in factories, and vetting security personnel guarding cooperatives.
“We are putting under surveillance the security and watchmen taking care of these cooperatives because some have been colluding with thieves,” he noted.
Murkomen reported a significant drop in theft cases, saying only 60 kilograms of coffee were stolen in Nyeri in July, down from 2,000 kilograms the previous month. He credited the progress to strong cooperation between farmers, cooperatives, and security teams.
“A good job was done in July and there have been a lot of recoveries. Stealing of farm products is a very negative thing, but the positive story is that farming is now bringing pesa mfukoni to residents of this area, and we must protect that,” he added.
At the same time, Murkomen commended Nyeri residents for working with security agencies to sustain peace, describing the county as one of the most stable in Kenya. He said government development projects, including road construction, the Economic Stimulus Program (ESP) markets, and the Affordable Housing Program (AHP), were progressing well.
He, however, warned against attempts to manipulate young people for political violence, including efforts to revive gangs. “The misuse of young people for political gain is something we are monitoring. We are going to work with chiefs to prepare society to confront this challenge, so that no one uses youth to cause violence, burn, destroy property, or kill,” he said.
The CS emphasized that apart from isolated cases of organized crime, Nyeri remained peaceful and attractive to investors. “Generally, Nyeri is very peaceful. People are going about their businesses, and government projects are on course,” he said.
Nyeri became the 32nd county to host Jukwaa la Usalama, a government program designed to enhance dialogue between state agencies and citizens. The initiative provides grassroots communities and leaders with a platform to voice concerns, share experiences, and propose solutions to challenges while promoting transparency and accountability.
