Vandalism of NCPB depots threatens Kenya’s food security, Government warns

In a statement to newsrooms, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe described the attack on NCPB depots as a direct assault on Kenya’s food security.

“The attack on the NCPB depot is not just a property crime; it is a direct assault on Kenya’s food security.” CS Kagwe noted.

Adding that: “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 show that over 7,354 bags of fertilizer, each weighing 50kg and valued at over Ksh. 29.5 million were looted from the depot.

The CS decried that the stolen fertilizer was part of the government’s agricultural input program and was intended to support farmers during the current planting season.

“This fertilizer is a vital input for farmers across the region. Its loss threatens to trigger a catastrophic crisis for both food crop and cash crop production.” He remarked.

He warned that as a country we must never confuse democratic rights with anarchy stressing that 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.” Kagwe noted.

Further, the CS urged the National Police Service to act with urgency in apprehending those involved in the looting and vandalism, recover the stolen fertilizer and prosecuted in accordance with law.

“Such actions undermine the legitimacy of peaceful protest and are an abuse of the democratic space. Just as brutality and loss of life are unacceptable, so too is the wanton destruction of public property and theft of critical agricultural inputs. Let us protect our democracy by ensuring it never deteriorates to anarchy.” Noted CS Kagwe.