Leaders in Maragua Constituency have raised concern over increased cases of theft of farm produce in the area even as they beseeched residents to desist from trespassing or stealing pineapples from the expansive Delmonte Farm.
Speaking in Kimorori ward during an empowerment forum on Wednesday, Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina, Maragua Member of Parliament Mary Wamaua and the Deputy County Commissioner, Gitonga Murungi, warned that the continued theft of farm produce is undermining economic growth in the sub county.
The theft also strains community relations as well as escalates tension between the community and the Delmonte farm whose close proximity to the surrounding villages makes it increasingly vulnerable to trespassers.
“We are seeing increased cases of people harvesting what they did not sow, and this is not only illegal but also unfair to hardworking farmers in the area who are trying hard to fill the country’s food basket,” said Maina, adding, “I urge you to stop trespassing on the Del Monte farm; let us work hard to earn the daily bread instead of exposing yourself to harm by stealing pineapples from the farm.”
She also called on Delmonte to work closely with local administrators to address the problem by ensuring their security team handles suspects and trespassers lawfully.
“If someone is caught stealing pineapples, let them be handed over to the police to face the criminal justice system. We will not tolerate unlawful assault in the name of protecting property,” she warned.
Echoing similar sentiments, Maragua MP Wamaua noted that hard economic times should not be used as an excuse to steal other people’s farm produce or the pineapples at Delmonte farm.
“I know that times are hard and cases of joblessness are high, but that should not justify stealing because if you are arrested and jailed you will leave your family without a breadwinner,” she said.
Wamaua lauded the security personnel for the concerted efforts and measures they have put in place to curb the menace.
“Let us talk to our children to avoid crime in any form and caution them about the consequences of the vices because we did not raise them only for them to be harmed or arrested while stealing farm produce.”
The MP underscored the need for harmony between the community and the Delmonte farm and harmony between each other, which will in turn foster job creation and spur economic growth.
DCC Gitonga Murungi termed the theft as a major setback to the efforts of honest farmers in the area.
“We have had persistent challenges with theft of farm produce here yet there are honest people who toil tirelessly but when harvesting time comes, other crafty ones reap from their toil, mostly the avocado fruit.”
He noted that some of the stolen farm produce originating from neighboring sub-counties are ferried through areas like Gakungu en route to local markets and only concerted efforts between the locals and the administration will end the menace.
Murungi further expressed concern over rising abuse of drugs among the youth which acts as a catalyst to the spate of thefts in the region.
“Drug abuse has deeply affected our young people and you will realize that most of those stealing do so to sustain their addiction,” he observed.
He pointed out that the widespread abuse of drugs had created an unsafe environment especially for young girls trying to pursue education.
During the empowerment forum, several groups were supported with non-refundable NGAAF funds for their economic ventures, 8 learning institutions received 5000-litre capacity water tanks each, while several groups and individuals received beehives to support their beekeeping ventures.
At the same time, all the elderly present received blankets and mattresses and food essentials while bright but needy students who had failed to join the university and remain in school were sponsored to remain in school.
By Florence Kinyua
