Three men killed on Kenya's Del Monte farm after G4S hired for security

Del Monte Foods’ pineapple farm in Kenya has become the focus of a growing security crisis after three men were killed in separate incidents over the past year, all allegedly involving guards from the British security firm G4S. The deaths come on the heels of a Guardian investigation that exposed brutal assaults and killings of suspected trespassers by the farm’s former in‑house security team. In response, Del Monte replaced its internal guards with G4S, a move that has not stopped the violence. Kenyan police have been working closely with the security firm to patrol the roughly 40‑square‑kilometre site, but the killings have sparked outrage among bereaved families and local politicians who demand a comprehensive review of the farm’s safety protocols.

The Guardian report highlighted a pattern of violent enforcement that led to the deaths of several workers and local residents, prompting the company to seek external security. Despite the new partnership with G4S, the farm’s security record remains troubling, with the latest incidents raising questions about the effectiveness of the current arrangement. Authorities and stakeholders are now calling for clearer accountability and stricter oversight of the security operations, as the community demands assurance that the farm will no longer be a site of lethal confrontations. The situation underscores the broader challenges of protecting agricultural assets in regions where land disputes and enforcement tactics can quickly turn deadly.