The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested an elderly man, Gregory Kingasia Wekesa, who is linked to a major coffee theft ring operating in major coffee-growing regions of the country.
The arrest, announced early Monday, December 8, 2025, follows a series of brazen heists that have rocked the coffee-growing heartland.
Detectives recovered a staggering 3,100 kg of stolen high-grade coffee beans from Wekesa’s home in Kimimini, Trans-Nzoia County, after forensic leads pointed to his involvement.
The thefts, peaking on November 25, saw armed mobs storm facilities, assaulting guards and making off with valuable coffee parchment.
One raid targeted Sowek Kenya Company Limited, while another hit Kiungani Coffee Growers Cooperative Society, leaving the industry reeling.
Photos released by DCI show the gray-haired suspect in custody, alongside stacks of seized sacks and labeled evidence bags.
The public is shocked, with many questioning how such an elderly figure became a key player in the crime.
While some applaud the DCI’s swift action, others argue it’s a distraction from tackling bigger corruption.
Wekesa now faces arraignment as authorities work to dismantle the network behind Kenya’s rising coffee thefts.
By Newshub