Eight suspects have been arrested, and part of the more than 7,354 stolen bags of fertilizer has been recovered following the violent looting and vandalism of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Maua, Meru County, during last week’s protests.

In the aftermath of the attack, authorities have ordered that all NCPB depots nationwide install and operate functional CCTV surveillance systems. The directive is aimed at deterring future incidents, enabling timely documentation, and assisting law enforcement in identifying and apprehending perpetrators of vandalism and theft.

The Maua incident, which occurred on June 25, 2025, saw large crowds overwhelm the facility, looting fertilizer, cereals, and office property. Witnesses claim the raid was politically motivated, with one resident stating, “It was a big loss for farmers in the area. Many will now be forced to travel to Meru town to access subsidized fertilizer and other services.”

According to DCIO Maua, Alex Wasike, the looters used motorbikes and Probox vehicles to transport the stolen fertilizer. Some of the vehicles have since been impounded and investigations are ongoing.

OCPD Eliakim Silgich of Igembe South noted that while police responded quickly, they were overwhelmed by the sheer size of the crowd. “Such atrocious attacks in the future will be met with equal force. There is no room for anarchy,” he said.

Depot Manager Abednego Sangolo revealed that the extent of the damage far exceeds the initial estimated loss of Ksh 29 million, which only accounted for fertilizer. “The looters torched the depot’s main office, stole office stationery, cereals, and vandalized the mobile seed dryer,” he said.

Local farmers and community members have condemned the attack, warning that it undermines critical government support programs in the region. The arrests and recovery efforts are ongoing as security agencies pursue more suspects and assess the full extent of the damage.