- Thieves armed with pangas attacked guards, tied them up, and stole over 70 bags of coffee worth millions, along with a water pump.
- Factory manager John Muli Kaloki urged police to intensify patrols and investigations, while calling on area MP Fabian Kyule to help farmers recover from the heavy losses.
A night raid at Unywani Coffee Factory in Kangundo Sub‑county has left farmers counting heavy losses after thieves made away with more than 70 bags of coffee valued at millions of shillings. The attackers also stole a water pump used at the facility, dealing a further blow to operations.
Factory Manager John Muli Kaloki said the gang struck at around 2 a.m., attacking three night guards with pangas before tying their hands and legs with ropes. “I arrived here at 4 a.m. after being alerted. I found the guards tied up with ropes, nursing deep panga cuts, while the coffee had already been loaded onto a truck and driven away,” he recounted.
Among the stolen produce were 37 bags of sorted coffee, ready for market. The factory, which has over 550 members, now faces significant financial strain as farmers await the outcome of investigations.
Residents rushed to the scene after news of the raid spread, expressing shock at the scale of the theft. Mr. Kaloki appealed for urgent police patrols around coffee factories, recalling that such measures had previously helped deter criminal activity. He urged security agencies to speed up investigations and bring the culprits to justice.
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The manager also called on area MP Fabian Kyule to assist farmers in recovering from the losses. “We are appealing to our MP to help us because we have suffered heavy losses following the theft of our coffee,” he said.
Police have launched investigations into the incident, with farmers demanding tighter security around coffee factories to protect their livelihoods from further attacks.
The injured guards are currently receiving treatment at Kangundo Level 4 Hospital.
By Gastone Valusi
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