Coffee farmers in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, are increasingly concerned about a surge in theft targeting their farms. Criminals have been uprooting entire coffee stems and stealing ripe cherries, with most incidents occurring on Sundays.
Farmers say thieves exploit the time when many residents attend church, leaving farms vulnerable. James Waweru and Eliud Muriithi, local farmers, explained that suspects often carry pangas and overpower farm guards to steal coffee stems, which they then harvest elsewhere.
Waweru recounted a recent event where he was guarding a farm on a Sunday but was overpowered by armed thieves who escaped with stolen coffee stems.
According to farmer Jonah Njue, the thefts happen almost every Sunday, and the rise in coffee prices is believed to be fueling the increase in these crimes.
Residents also report that thieves have become bolder, sometimes stealing household items from homes left empty during church services. One resident, Kibaki, shared an incident where suspects tampered with his electricity connection while he was away.
The farmers suspect that the perpetrators are local community members. They have committed to working closely with security agencies to apprehend the culprits.
Eliud Muriithi stated, "We will flush them out. We know who they are, even if they try to run away." Meanwhile, Eliud Wachira noted that such thefts were rare before but have become more frequent in recent months.
The community remains vigilant, determined to protect their coffee farms and safeguard their livelihoods.
