Police in Embu North sub-county have recovered 11 bags of parchment coffee valued at Sh2 million stolen last Saturday.

The vehicle ferrying the loot was intercepted on the Embu-Nairobi Highway near Embu Town, following a tip-off from members of the public, where one suspect was also arrested.

Area sub-county Police Commander Abdullahi Alio said preliminary investigations pointed at collusion of workers at the mill, where coffee from all factories across the county is stored awaiting sale.

He said they had commenced investigations to arrest all culprits involved in the theft, even as the main suspect, a quality assurance manager, was expected to be arraigned in court Tuesday.

“We are scrutinising his phone to give us crucial leads from his call log on others who could be involved,” said the police boss.

At the same time, farmers affiliated to the mill have since demanded for the disbandment of the entire Board of Management at the factory to safeguard their produce.

“We have lost confidence in workers at the mill if at all our coffee can find its way out without farmers’ knowledge in broad daylight,” said a farmer Joseph Kanyi.

The farmers threatened to storm the mill to eject the current management team and install an interim committee to safeguard their coffee.

They also demanded for immediate arrest and prosecution of all those who played part in the theft.

Elsewhwere, the government has been urged to increase funding to Technical and Vocational Training Institutions (TVETS) to help boost innovation and tap talents among the youth.

Ruiru MP Simon King’ara (pictured)said the biggest challenge facing skilling institutions is shortage of funds for commercialisation of various innovations by learners as well as their tutors.

He noted the need for the government to empower and enhance the entrepreneurial skills of young men and women by enabling them to implement innovative projects designed to provide technological and environmental solutions to local challenges in their communities.

“This will foster an entrepreneurial culture among young people, with a goal to empower the most vulnerable by building and developing their transferable and entrepreneurial skills,” King’ara averred.

Speaking during an exhibition-cum competition event for 30 technical colleges from the Nairobi region held at the Ruiru Technical and Vocational Training center in Kiambu county, the lawmaker rooted for enactment of a law allowing the Treasury to increase allocations to middle level institutions which he said play a pivotal role in job creation and economic development.

“Empowerment of young men and women allows them to become active citizens and contribute to their communities. The youth have a lot of energy which we need to tap in our quest to enhance entrepreneurship, creativity, education, and technology,” said the MP.