Maua, Kenya — Eight people have been arrested over the theft of government-subsidised fertiliser during last week’s anti-government protests in Meru County, according to Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
The suspects are accused of looting dozens of 50-kilogramme bags of fertiliser from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Maua during the demonstrations on June 25.
In a police operation carried out in Maua town and Luluma village, detectives said they recovered 63 bags of fertiliser and eight bags of cement. Also seized were a Toyota Probox and three motorcycles, allegedly used to transport the stolen goods.
The NCPB depot had been targeted amid countrywide protests that drew thousands into the streets, calling for justice for victims of past demonstrations and condemning state violence.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe confirmed the theft in a press briefing earlier this week, revealing that 7,354 bags were taken from the facility each weighing 50kg, totalling more than 367 tonnes. The loss is estimated at KSh29.5 million.
“This was fertiliser meant for our farmers. It was meant to put food on the table for millions,” Mr Kagwe said. “What happened in Maua is not protest it’s sabotage. It’s a direct attack on our country’s food security.”
He urged security agencies to act fast, calling the suspects “criminals and anarchists” who must face the full force of the law.
The incident adds to a string of reported lootings and vandalism that broke out during last week’s demonstrations. While many protestors marched peacefully in memory of those killed during the 2024 Finance Bill unrest, some took advantage of the chaos to destroy and steal property.
Rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns over the government’s handling of protestors, highlighting cases of police violence and arbitrary arrests. “We must draw a line between peaceful protest and criminal activity,” a local human rights activist told The Times on condition of anonymity. “But we also cannot ignore the brutality that often provokes these acts.”
Police say investigations are still ongoing, and more arrests are expected.
