MOMBASA, Kenya – Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has proposed the formation of an Agricultural Police Unit to tackle crimes affecting the farming sector, including land invasions and counterfeit agricultural inputs.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Mombasa with key players in the tea industry, Kagwe revealed that discussions on the new police unit are already underway with Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and will be escalated to President William Ruto for approval.
“I have proposed to my brother CS Kipchumba, and we are progressing to the President, that we form an Agricultural Police Unit,” Kagwe said, emphasizing that agriculture—like tourism—requires a specialized security force to address industry-specific challenges.
Kagwe highlighted the rising concerns over illegal activities affecting the sector, such as the invasion of multinational tea farms, counterfeit farm inputs, and tea hawking.
He argued that regular police officers, trained to handle general law enforcement, may not be well-equipped to tackle agriculture-specific crimes.
“When you tell someone used to chasing gunrunners to deal with farm invasions or fake fertiliser scams, their mindset is completely different,” Kagwe explained. “We need officers who understand what constitutes fake, expired, or proper fertiliser. That’s not something a regular police officer is trained for.”
The meeting brought together representatives from the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), Kenya Tea Growers’ Association (KTGA), Independent Tea Producers (ITP), tea traders, and the East African Tea Trade Association (EATA).
Discussions centered on improving green leaf quality, expanding market access, and addressing tea hawking.
Among the key resolutions:
- The Ministry of Agriculture will publish green leaf quality standards, with the Tea Board tasked with deregistering those involved in illegal tea trade.
- EATA will work to enhance the transparency of the tea auction system, making it more accessible to buyers and consumers globally.
- The government will explore diplomatic solutions to ease trade barriers in the Iranian and Sudanese markets.
- Plans are underway to establish a Tea Council to unify and advocate for all tea sector stakeholders.
Additionally, Kagwe pledged to fast-track the appointment of large-scale tea growers and traders to the Tea Board of Kenya.
With growing concerns over agricultural security and market challenges, the proposed Agricultural Police Unit could mark a significant shift in how the government safeguards the interests of farmers and agribusinesses.
