Arson attack in Mukurweini – Coffee farmers blamed

A group from agitated and angry coffee farmers have attacked property and local businesses before moving onwards to a nearby coffee factory and setting that ablaze before fleeing upon the arrival of the police.

According to local reports the farmers are all predominantly affiliated with the Ramukia Co-operative, which is based in the Kenyan province of Mukurweini.

Earlier on in the day they set up a temporary roadblock in an attempt to divert traffic to and from the Kagunyu Coffee Factory. It is believed this was done to prevent any deliveries reaching the Kenya Co-operative Coffee Exporter (KCCE) which is based in the nearby establishment of Sagana.

The Standard – one of the premier news sources in Kenya – was allegedly told that the farmers were ‘protesting the decision by management to deliver their coffee to the KCCE for milling and marketing.’

“They wanted accountability,” explained factory manager John Maina.

It transpires a consignment of coffee totalling nearly 3,500kg was delivered to a milling plant last year, but local farmers have, apparently, been kept in the dark and the whole situation has spiralled out of all control.

Mania also went on to claim that one of the ringleaders attempted to incite a series of violent events a number of weeks ago and was subsequently kicked out of the Co-operative’s upper management structure.

“[He] started mobilising farmers at around 7am using a loudspeaker,” Mania added. “[He was] urging them to converge at the factory and block any attempt to have coffee leave the factory.”

But despite the chaos, conflict and roadblocks, at least 1,500 bags were transported to the KCCE for milling and eventual exportation.

It transpires that a couple of months ago some administrative offices in Gatura were set ablaze by some unknown arsonists who, allegedly, wanted to destroy a number of documents and half an on-going audit.

Could these be linked?