On August 16 2025, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism reported that two men had been killed in separate incidents at Del Monte’s Kenyan pineapple farm in the past week, amid unrest and calls for the fruit giant to reassess its approach to security. On Friday August 8, Michael Muiruri Murigi was knocked off a motorbike by a pickup truck while travelling on a road that bisects the farm. The pickup driver was a G4S guard, police told TBIJ. Muiruri, a vegetable seller who had been riding pillion, was then run over by the same pickup, according to a police report. Brian Kuria Mithoni, who was driving the bike, was also injured in the collision. The pair were taken to a nearby hospital where Muiruri later died. A post-mortem found multiple injuries, including to his pelvis and chest. Kuria told TBIJ that he believed the collision was intentional, as they were not on a bend so would have been visible to the driver. He was unsure, however, why he and Muiruri could have been targeted. Muiruri’s death prompted violent protests at the farm. During a clash on Tuesday, one man – named by police as Harrison Kibandi Marubu and by local media as Stephen Marubu – was shot dead by police. The county police commander told TBIJ that the death occurred after about 150 pineapple thieves “armed with machetes [and] stones” ambushed officers and G4S guards while they were on patrol. A G4S vehicle was burnt. The death is being investigated by the Kenyan Independent Police Oversight Authority.

Business and Human Rights Resource Centre invited G4S Kenya and Del Monte Kenya to respond to the allegations.

G4S responded to our invitation by stating that the company’s security officers working at Del Monte sites have undertaken comprehensive training, including operational procedures, human rights awareness, de-escalation techniques, and the principles of minimum use of force. G4S further stated that it expects all its employees to respect human rights at all times and takes all allegations of violations seriously. In relation to the tragic road traffic incident in Murang’a on 8 August, G4S is fully cooperating with local law enforcement to assist with their investigation. Del Monte Kenya did not respond