The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
A stand off ensued between security personnel within the Delmonte Kenya Limited plantation and the community, after a suspected pineapple thief was shot dead at close range.
The killing of Stephen Marubu, 30, on Tuesday sparked violence as the residents in Kihiu Mwiri and Mwangario areas neighbouring the pineapple plantations, burned a vehicle that security guards were using in revenge.
It is alleged that Marubu was killed by a police officer who accompanied the security guards on the patrol to scare away the pineapple thieves.
The incident followed another on Friday last week when a security patrol vehicle ran over Micheal Muiruri within the farm.
After the shooting incident, the community repulsed the guards, and blocked them for more than five hours from collecting Marubu’s body from the scene, until a reinforcement team led by Ithanga Kakuzi Sub County Police Commander Hassan Bashir was deployed.
Stephen Wachira, who was in Marubu’s company at the time of the incident recounted they were passing when they were asked where they were going and the latter replied they were from Makongo area in Thika and were heading home in Kihiu Mwiri.
“Marubu politely told the guards they were just passing through the plantation before a policeman opened fire at him,” said Wachira, adding that he had surrendered .
Wachira condemned the incident, calling for investigations into the death of his son.
“ It remains unexplainable why the police are brought from far to guard the pineapple farms without knowledge of the locals,” said Kamande.
But the youth acknowledged stealing pineapples from the plantations for local consumption as they opposed the killings.
Ithanga/Kakuzi sub county Police Commander Hassan Bashir arrived in a contingent of police to enforce the police move the body of Marubu from the scene.
“ We have to conduct an investigation to establish the gun that fired the bullet,” said Mr Hassan.
Family of the deceased camped at the scene mourning as they accused the police for the unwanted death as the demanded arrest of the policeman implicated .
Maragua MP Mary Wamaua castigated the police for the death of the youth accusing them of being misused by pineapple processors, in dealing with the community.
He asked Interior and National Coordination Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to order indepth investigation on the Ngati Police Station alleged to have been misused by the multinational agricultural firm for years.
“The OCS at Ngati police station should be replaced with immediate effect as I am particularly uncomfortable with the killing of the youth over the years. The police should arrest and charge them in court,” said Wamaua accompanied by Kimorori Wempa MCA Elizabeth Mwangi.
In the past there have been incidents of suspects thrown into the dams, unleashing of dogs among other injustices.
In June last year, there was panic after the body of Peter Mutuku Mutisya, 25, was found floating in the dam on Del Monte’s plantation near Thika four days after friends said they were in the plantation stealing pineapples.
