Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has condemned the looting of over 7,000 bags of fertiliser from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Maua, Meru County during the June 25 anti-government protests, warning that the act poses a serious threat to national food security.

In a statement on Friday, Kagwe said the Maua depot was attacked and vandalised when what began as a peaceful protest was hijacked by criminals.

He called on the National Police Service to urgently investigate, recover the stolen fertiliser, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

"The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development unequivocally condemns the vandalism and looting of the NCPB depot in Maua, Meru County, on the 25th of June 2025. We must never confuse democratic rights with anarchy. Peaceful demonstrations are being hijacked by criminals,"  he said.

"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 said the destruction was not merely a case of stolen property, but a direct attack on the country’s ability to feed itself and grow its economy.

"Fertiliser was looted, fertiliser meant to sustain farmers through this planting season. This reckless act jeopardises the ability of our farmers to grow food, feed their families, and support the national economy," he stated.

According to preliminary assessments by the ministry, more than 7,354 bags of fertiliser, each weighing 50 kilograms and valued at over sh29.5 million, were stolen during the raid.

“This fertiliser 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. We therefore urge the National Police Service to act with urgency in apprehending those involved in the looting and vandalism, recover the stolen fertiliser and prosecute per the law,” added Kagwe.

He also appealed to Kenyans to safeguard democracy by refusing to tolerate actions that slide the country into lawlessness. Kagwe said such attacks not only weaken public institutions but also distort the legitimacy of peaceful protest.

“Just as brutality and loss of life are unacceptable, so too is the wanton destruction of public property and theft of critical agricultural inputs,” he said.