Gang steals coffee worth Sh10m, but after feasting on chicken – PHOTOS
A gang of thieves staged a daring raid at a coffee factory in Mukurwe-ini, Nyeri, carrying away 51bags of coffee worth sh10 million and cooking themselves a late supper of rice and chicken stew.
And it emerged hours later that police were being paid Sh27,000 per month to guard the Ndia-ini coffee factory and patrol the area round the clock.
During the 4am raid, the gang of more than 30 had all the time to slaughter an unknown number of chicken, make a stew, boil rice and eat to their fill before leisurely taking their leave.
The meal was prepared in the factory’s kitchen and eaten within the premise.
This was after the gang had transferred 51 bags of coffee from the stores and coffee beds to a waiting lorry. They also made away with 39 chicken, a computer’s central processing unit, 20 bags of fertilizer, spraying chemicals worth sh91, 000 and cash worth sh5, 000 from the clerk’s office.
The factory’s management said the gang entered the premise after subduing five watchmen deployed to man the factory.
INSIDE JOB
The factory’s chairman Moses Mogwe suspects the theft was an inside job.
“One of them had repeatedly threatened to release the coffee if he was not given a chunk of money,” he said.
The coffee was supposed to be transported to Thunguri coffee factory at the end of this month.
This is the second incident of coffee theft from the society after coffee worth sh20 million was stolen at Tambaya factory months ago.
Mr Timothy Ndegwa, a farmer said, he caught a glimpse of the lorry that was used to transport the coffee and could only recall registration number KAR.
“The thugs were aboard a blue and white lorry which they hurriedly drove off after a significant number of farmers assembled,” he said.
COMPENSATE
The farmers want the government to compensate them for the stolen coffee despite having an insurance scheme for the crop.
“We have an insurer but they take too long to compensate us or release the funds,” said Mr Mogwe, Ndia-ini factory chairman.
He revealed that they pay police officers in Mukurwe-ini approximately sh27, 000 per month to patrol around the factory and guard against theft.
This was part of a gentleman’s agreement between the factory’s management and the police.
“Since we pay these police officers, the least they can do is conduct their patrols well,” he said, adding that the fee is not compulsory.
