The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has nabbed tens of packs of banned plastic bags in Kakamega.
This follows a sting operation in Sigalagala Centre in Kakamega County, as the agency seeks to root out the menace of pollution in the country.
In a statement on Thursday, November 21, 2024, NEMA revealed that they were able to seize 70 packs of the banned plastic bags, despite the supplier fleeing.
“Kakamega inspection team today conducted an intelligence-led sting operation in Sigalagala Centre to nab a supplier of the banned plastic bags. Inspectors intercepted the notorious supplier who unfortunately fled the scene on noticing their days trading in the banned contrabands were numbered,” NEMA stated.
“A total of 70 packs of the bags were seized and the Kakamega team is working closely with community informants and police to locate and have the culprit and any other stockists in the area brought to book.”
NEMA bans plastic bags
On February 28, 2017, the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources through Gazette Notice No. 2334 banned the manufacture, importation and use of plastic bags used for both commercial and household packaging.
The ban took effect on August 28 2017.
The ban applies to carrier bags constructed with handles and with or without gussets and flat bags constructed without handles and with or without gussets.
Since the ban came into force, NEMA has been issuing clearances for plastic (flat) bags used for primary industrial packaging.
The use of the bags has been persistent, especially in less regulated markets where traders still prefer to use the outlawed bags.
This has resulted in more pollution to the environment since most of the plastic bags are not biodegradable.