Nandi Woman Representative Calls for Calm Following Deadly Coffee Factory Raids
Muge also urged coffee factories to invest in modern security gadgets to protect personnel and property.
Nandi County Woman Representative Cynthia Muge . Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Nandi County Woman Representative Cynthia Muge has called for calm, unity, and increased security after several incidents of violent raids in Tindiret Sub-County where coffee factories were targeted, leaving three-night guards dead and large quantities of coffee beans stolen.
The attacks occurred at Coffee land Outgrowers Factory and Chebonet Coffee Mill. These attacks have sent shockwaves in the local community and raised one serious concern after another on the safety of workers and the security of the coffee sector, an important economic activity in the area. Farmers who depend on coffee production for life have been instilled with fear by the incidents.
The attacks necessitated a consultative meeting held at Chebonet Coffee Mill, which brought together Woman Representative Cynthia Muge, Nandi County Police Commander Peter Kirui, local administrators, factory officials, and community leaders to assess the prevailing security situation, engage stakeholders, and recommend practical measures to prevent further incidents.
During the meeting, Muge termed the killings as a painful and tragic loss for Nandi County. She observed that the violent raids have not only caused death but also brought fear among the factory workers and farmers besides threatening the stability of an industry that sustains many households in the region. She called on residents to remain calm, united, and vigilant at this trying moment.
The Woman Representative appealed to the community members to cooperate closely with security agencies through the provision of any available information that could aid in the identification and apprehension of the perpetrators. Muge noted that such cooperation between the citizens and law enforcement agencies is crucial in the restoration of peace and ensuring that the perpetrators of the attacks are brought to book.
She further called upon the national government to increase security deployment in coffee-growing areas, observing that the targeted nature of the raids calls for increased deployment of security. Muge also urged coffee factories to invest in modern security gadgets to protect personnel and property. These, she said, include proper perimeter fencing, improvement of lighting, and the installation of alarm systems to deter crime.
Nandi County Police Commander Peter Kirui has confirmed that the attacks are under investigation. Mr Kirui added that preliminary investigations point to suspects being part of organised criminal networks targeting coffee factories. He assured that more police patrols in Tindiret Sub-County and its environs, especially during the night, have been intensified to avert such incidents and assure members of the public of their safety.
The police commander also warned residents against taking the law into their own hands and spreading unverified information, threatening that this might have a negative effect on investigations still ongoing. He stressed that close cooperation with the police remains paramount in restoring calm and security and ensuring that justice is accorded to the three guards who lost their lives in the raids. Authorities and leaders present reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate towards the protection of life, securing coffee communities, and reviving confidence among farmers and workers in the region.
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