Panic has gripped coffee farmers in Kangema, Murang’a after a gang broke into Marimira Coffee Factory and made away with 15 bags of coffee in what locals believe was a carefully planned inside job. The incident has revived fears of renewed thefts at a time when prices at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange are rising.
The break‑in reportedly occurred around 6 am during a shift change, with farmers questioning why factory guards failed to conduct the usual handover. The theft came barely a week after an earlier attempted break‑in was foiled, heightening suspicion among growers.
Chaos erupted when news of the incident spread, sending farmers running toward the factory to secure the remaining coffee. The theft was discovered by an employee reporting for duty, who found one of the drying rooms tampered with. Marimira Factory is affiliated with the Iyego Coffee Cooperative Society.
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Farmers, led by Charity Wanjiku, demanded an independent review of the CCTV footage to establish who was behind the raid. They also questioned the whereabouts of police officers and guards assigned to the facility at the time of the incident. Wanjiku said farmers would continue guarding the factory until arrests are made. “We need total accountability as to why there was no official handing over of the shifts as has always been the norm,” she said.
Factory official Nelson Mwangi urged farmers to remain calm and continue harvesting as investigations proceed. “The matter is under investigation and the report will be submitted to the farmers,” he said.
Iyego Coffee Cooperative Society chairman Njuguna Karatu said the management has launched intensive investigations and will review security footage to identify the culprits. “We are committed to ensuring the culprits are brought to book,” he said.
By our Correspondent
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