Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has condemned the looting and destruction of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Maua, Meru County during protests on Wednesday, June 25.
In a statement on Friday, June 27, Kagwe warned against the rising trend of criminal elements infiltrating peaceful demonstrations to carry out acts of lawlessness.
"We must never confuse democratic rights with anarchy. Peaceful demonstrations are being hijacked by criminals. Those who rob, destroy, and loot critical public installations such as the NCB are not demonstrators, they are criminals and anarchists, and they must be treated as such," he said.
Kagwe noted that the vandalism was not merely an attack on infrastructure but a threat to the nation’s food supply chain.
"The attack on the NCB depot is not just a property crime, it is a direct assault on Kenya's food security. Fertilizer was looted, fertilizer meant to sustain farmers through this planting season. This reckless act jeopardizes the ability of our farmers to grow food, feed their families, and support the national economy," he added.
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According to Kagwe, preliminary investigations have shown that over 7,000 bags of fertilizer valued at Ksh29.5 million were looted from the depot.
"Preliminary assessments show that over 7,354 bags of fertilizer, each weighing 50kg and valued at over Ksh. 29.5 million, were looted from the depot. This fertilizer is a vital input for farmers across the region. Its loss threatens to trigger a catastrophic crisis for both food crop and cash crop production," he further said.
As such, Kagwe has called on law enforcement authorities to respond swiftly and ensure accountability.
"We therefore urge the National Police Service to act with urgency in apprehending those involved in the looting and vandalism, recover the stolen fertilizer and prosecuted in accordance with law.
"Such actions undermine the legitimacy of peaceful protest and are an abuse of the democratic space. Just as brutality and loss of life are unacceptable, so too is the wanton destruction of public property and theft of critical agricultural inputs," he concluded.
