Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has delivered a stark diagnosis for the wave of coffee theft sweeping Kenya’s agricultural heartlands: the sector is becoming a victim of its own success.

Speaking in Karara, Cherangany, on Tuesday, the CS revealed that the sharp increase in organized raids on factories and farms is directly proportional to the soaring global prices of coffee. While the government’s reforms have successfully put more money in farmers' pockets, they have also turned coffee berries into a high-stakes commodity for criminal syndicates.

The Price of Prosperity

“The President has worked to stabilize the economy, reduce fertilizer prices, and secure markets for our produce. That is why coffee prices are high,” Murkomen explained to a gathering in Trans Nzoia County. “But because prices have gone up, theft has also increased.”

The numbers paint a vivid picture of the temptation facing these cartels. With clean coffee averaging $8 per kilogram (approx. KES 1,030) at auction, a single 50kg bag of premium beans can now fetch upwards of $400 (approx. KES 51,500). For a struggling criminal network, a night’s raid on a cooperative store is no longer petty theft—it is a multi-million shilling heist.

Murkomen noted that the strong dollar returns from exports have made the crop, often dubbed “black gold,” a lucrative target. This paradox—where economic recovery fuels insecurity—is now the primary challenge for the Interior Ministry in coffee-growing zones like Nyeri, Murang’a, and Kirinyaga.

Intelligence-Led Crackdown

The CS issued a blunt ultimatum to the syndicates, warning that the window for their operations is closing. He announced that the government is shifting to “intelligence-led operations” to dismantle the networks, rather than just reacting to break-ins.

“You may think you are hiding, but we have a plan for you. We are very serious,” Murkomen warned. He cited the recent security successes in the volatile Kerio Valley—where security agencies recovered over 1,000 illegal firearms—as proof of the government’s resolve when it decides to act.

To secure the supply chain, the Ministry has outlined a multi-pronged strategy:

• Vetting of Guards: Intelligence reports indicate that many thefts involve collusion. Guards and factory employees will now face stricter vetting.
• Surveillance Tech: Cooperatives are being urged to install CCTV systems to monitor stores and transit points.
• Police Accountability: Local Officers Commanding Stations (OCSs) have been instructed to take personal charge of coffee security in their jurisdictions.

A Farmer’s Dilemma

For the Kenyan farmer, the situation remains precarious. While the promise of earning KES 150 per kilogram of cherry is a welcome relief after years of stagnation, the fear of losing an entire season’s harvest in a single night is palpable. In recent months, farmers in Central Kenya have been forced to sleep in factories to guard their produce, a situation the government insists must end.

“The positive story is that farming is now putting pesa mfukoni (money in pockets), so we must protect it,” Murkomen emphasized. He assured residents that the same machinery deployed to silence guns in the North Rift will now be turned toward protecting the sweat of the Kenyan farmer.