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Eight arrested over fertilizer theft during Gen Z June 25 protests

National

Author: Grace Githinji

June 30, 2025

2 min.read

Police in Maua have arrested eight suspects accused of looting over 7,300 bags of subsidized fertilizer during the Gen Z-led protests on June 25. The arrests came after an intelligence-led operation targeting Maua Township and Luluma Village in Makiri.

Investigators say the suspects took advantage of the chaos to break into the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot. Authorities later recovered 63 bags of fertilizer, eight bags of cement, a Toyota Probox, and three motorcycles suspected to have been used in the heist.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reported that they tracked the suspects using surveillance footage and community tip-offs. Police also impounded three motorcycles—registration numbers KMFS 106Q, KMFY 687H, and KMFM 529E, which were allegedly used to transport the stolen goods.

Earlier, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe confirmed that 7,354 bags of fertilizer were stolen. The fertilizer weighed 367.7 tonnes and was valued at KSh 29.5 million. Kagwe condemned the act, saying it posed a serious threat to food security and disrupted planned farming activities.

“Those who rob, destroy, and loot public installations like the NCPB are not demonstrators, they are criminals and anarchists and they must be treated as such,” said Kagwe.

He commended law enforcement agencies for their swift response. Additionally, he called for enhanced security around all public depots and urged the public to report any suspicious activity. According to Kagwe, such theft undermines public confidence in the government’s agricultural support systems.

The Ministry of Agriculture has promised to replenish the stolen fertilizer once the ongoing audit is complete. Kagwe directed security officers to intensify patrols around government storage facilities to prevent similar attacks in the future.

Meanwhile, DCI officers continue searching for more suspects. “We won’t rest until we account for all missing fertilizer bags and arrest those responsible,” said one officer. Investigators are also conducting forensic audits to determine the full scale of the loss.

This fertilizer theft occurred amid wider unrest during the June 25 Gen Z protests. Although the demonstrations initially opposed the Finance Bill and police brutality, rogue individuals exploited the opportunity to loot and vandalize public infrastructure.

In response, security agencies are reviewing crowd control measures to prevent a recurrence. The Ministry of Interior has warned that future incidents will be met with swift legal action.

Local farmers, who relied on the fertilizer for the planting season, now face uncertainty. “We were all set to plant, but the theft left us with nothing. I hope they return our fertilizer, or provide replacements quickly,” said John Wambua, a farmer in Makiri.

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Grace Githinji