The Del monte company is on the spot after bodies of two young men were retrieved from the Thika river on December 25.
Notably, the two brought to a total of four men who were allegedly killed by guards manning the farm after they were caught stealing fruits.
The four had been missing for days after they left their respective homes on December 18 to find jobs at a quarry adjoining the vast farm according to their families.
They later sneaked into one of the plantations, where they started harvesting the pineapples, oblivious to what would later turn into a tragedy.
Thereafter, two of the bodies were retrieved on December 24 after a search was done by relatives and members of the public.
Assault Accusations
It is reported that the four were allegedly assaulted by guards before being tossed into the river where they drowned.
In addition, witnesses and family members at the scene revealed that the bodies of the deceased were badly injured.
“The body has visible injuries. He was assaulted and beaten, not that he drowned. The young man was killed because even his head was full of blood,” said one of the deceased relatives at the scene.
Also Read: Deaths Reported as Friends Feast on Carcass
On the other hand, according to Murang’a police commander Mathew Kainga, the authorities have since launched an investigation to the killings.
“The investigations will be aided by witness statements and postmortem reports,” said Kainga.
Additionally, the police boss confirmed that this is not the first case of assault and theft reported by members of the public and the farm respectively.
Del Monte Deaths
The Del monte company on its part denied the accusations insisting that it is cooperating with the police to help in the investigations.
Also Read: Del Monte Security Guards Accused of Brutal Killings
Nonetheless, Del monte, which is the world’s largest pineapple supplier with an estimated 40 sq km plantation, has earlier been on the spot for similar cases.
The farm’s guards have been accused of brutally assaulting and killing people suspected of trespassing on its land.
Notably, in July this year the company was yet again accused of being responsible for the deaths of two minors.
They were reportedly injured by Del Monte guards after being accused of stealing pineapples from the company’s plantation.
The vast plantation has public roads going through it and directly employs about 230 security guards, typically armed with wooden clubs locally known as ‘rungus’.
