Eight traders were arrested in Machakos County for being in possession of the outlawed items. The arrest was part of a joint operation by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), the Machakos County Government, and local police officers, which took place on Thursday in Kyumbi Town, Athi River Subcounty.
The operation was triggered by concerns from NEMA that banned plastic bags, which were originally banned in 2017 due to their negative environmental impact, were making a comeback in the market. NEMA’s Head of Operations, Shieni Koiyet, explained that the surge in the use of banned plastic bags, particularly those used for packaging goods like muguka, had prompted the agency to ramp up its enforcement efforts.
“During the swoop, about 1,000 pieces of banned flat bags and black carrier bags were recovered,” said Koiyet. These bags, notorious for clogging drainage systems, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and posing serious threats to wildlife and human health, had been unlawfully reintroduced into circulation.
The arrested traders were detained at Kyumbi Police Station and are expected to be arraigned in Mavoko Law Courts. This serves as a stern warning to other traders who may still be flouting the plastic bag ban. Koiyet also expressed frustration over the traders’ reluctance to disclose the sources of the banned bags, but emphasized that NEMA is working tirelessly to track down the suppliers and manufacturers of these illegal products.
“We are using intelligence to trace whether there are local manufacturers or if these bags are being imported from countries where they are not banned,” Koiyet added. The NEMA enforcement team has vowed to continue operations across various counties to ensure compliance with the ban.
This latest crackdown underscores the government’s commitment to protecting the environment from the harmful effects of plastic pollution. The public is reminded that the use of plastic bags remains prohibited, as they pose a serious threat to the environment, human health, and animal welfare.
