The Ministry of Agriculture has strongly condemned the looting and vandalism of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Maua, Meru County, terming the incident a dangerous affront to Kenya’s food security.
The attack, which occurred on June 25, 2025, saw criminals raid the government facility and make away with thousands of bags of fertilizer meant to support farmers during the ongoing planting season. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe described the incident as “an assault not just on public property, but on Kenya’s ability to feed itself.”
“The attack on the NCPB depot is not just a property crime; it is a direct assault on Kenya’s food security,” Kagwe said in a statement. “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.”
Preliminary assessments by the ministry reveal that over 7,354 bags of fertilizer, each weighing 50 kilograms and valued at more than Ksh.29.5 million, were stolen from the depot.
The fertilizer was earmarked for distribution to farmers across the region, many of whom now face uncertainty as they brace for a potential disruption in crop production.
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Kagwe warned that such criminal acts, if left unchecked, could trigger a catastrophic crisis for both food crop and cash crop production, undermining national economic stability and rural livelihoods.
“We must never confuse democratic rights with anarchy,” Kagwe emphasized. “Peaceful demonstrations are being hijacked by criminals. Those who rob, destroy, and loot critical public installations such as the NCPB are not demonstrators; they are criminals and anarchists, and they must be treated as such.”
The Ministry has called on the National Police Service to act swiftly in arresting those responsible for the looting and recovering the stolen fertilizer. Kagwe insisted that the perpetrators must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
“Such actions undermine the legitimacy of peaceful protest and are an abuse of the democratic space,” he said. “Just as brutality and loss of life are unacceptable, so too is the wanton destruction of public property and theft of critical agricultural inputs.”
The incident comes at a time when Kenya is investing heavily in enhancing agricultural productivity and stabilizing food supply chains. The Ministry reiterated its commitment to safeguarding national food security and ensuring farmers have access to essential inputs.
“Let us protect our democracy by ensuring it never deteriorates to anarchy”
The government has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any information that could aid investigations.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to assess the full extent of the damage and mitigate the potential impact on farmers in the region.
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