Eight Arrested Over KSh 29M Fertiliser Heist in Meru During Anti-Government Protests

DCI recovers stolen bags, vehicles as government vows tighter security at farm depots

Meru, Kenya – Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested eight suspects linked to the daring KSh 29 million looting of government-subsidized fertiliser during the anti-government protests on June 25. The theft occurred at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Maua, Meru County, triggering outrage over the breach of food security infrastructure.

In coordinated, intelligence-led operations, officers recovered 63 bags of the stolen fertiliser and impounded multiple vehicles believed to have been used in transporting the loot. The arrests, announced on Monday, mark a major breakthrough in a case that has unsettled farmers in the region who depend on subsidized inputs for the planting season.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe previously condemned the heist as “a direct assault on Kenya’s food security,” underscoring its gravity amid ongoing economic strains. The DCI confirmed the suspects will face charges including theft and destruction of public property.

The government has now pledged to bolster security at all NCPB depots nationwide and to expand investigations to bring additional culprits to justice. The incident has become a stark reminder of how civil unrest can expose critical public infrastructure to criminal exploitation—at a time when agricultural stability remains essential to Kenya’s recovery and development.