Residents of Murinduko in Mwea East, Kirinyaga County, are counting losses after a gang of armed men raided Togonye Coffee Factory on Sunday night and made away with 26 bags of coffee cherries valued at over Ksh1.8 million.
According to officials from the Urumandi Coffee Cooperative Society, the attackers more than ten in number broke into the factory’s main store under the cover of darkness.
They tied up two night watchmen and injured them before loading the stolen produce into a lorry.
Samuel Bundi one of the guards said he was manning a water pump when the gang stormed the compound through the main entrance
They were many and were armed with crude weapons and overpowered us quickly. Some kept an eye on us while the rest took the coffee,” Bundi said. He and his colleague managed to untie themselves and raise the alarm once the gang left.
Urumandi Society Chairman Patrick Gicobi said the stolen coffee had already been dried and was scheduled for sale the following morning.
“This is not the first time. It’s the third time this factory has been hit, and now our farmers have nothing. This theft is devastating, especially now that coffee prices have gone up,” Gicobi said.
Vice Chairman Cyrus Murabai added that both Togonye and Mururi factories have been doing well lately, thanks to better prices in the market.
“We urge police to move fast and bring those responsible to book. This kind of theft discourages farmers who have worked hard for months,” he said.
Police officers visited the scene and have launched investigations. No arrests had been made by Monday afternoon.
