By Kamundia Muriithi
A Ward Representative has petitioned the Embu County Assembly to draft a law compelling state security organs to protect dried coffee beans in farmers’ co-operative societies.
Ruguru Ngandori MCA Sammy Muturi decried the escalation of cases of theft of coffee from stores at various factories.
He said Gakundu Coffee Factory in his ward had been ambushed and more than 600 bags of coffee stolen.
He said the syndicate had so far hit several coffee factories in the area including Central Ngandori, Kianjuki, where more thousands of bags of coffee have been stolen.
“This is enough justification for deployment of armed police officers in the factories to protect farmers’ produce,” he said.
Agriculture and Co-operative Development Committee Chairman Salesio Kimaru said that the County Government cannot tackle insecurity at the coffee factories as this was the sole mandate of the National Government.
