At least four people have been arrested in the last one week in Garissa following enhanced enforcement of plastic bags ban by officials from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).
The agency has been conducting operations in hotels, colleges and institutions in a bid to ensure compliance to the Efficient Discharge License (EDL) which require better waste management procedures among institutions.
The NEMA County Director, Adhan Bile said the agency is investigating the source of plastic paper bags.
There have also been allegations that huge consignments including the banned plastic paper bags are illegally being smuggled across the border from neighbouring Somalia.
“I want to send a warning to those behind the business that we will soon catch up with them,” Bile said. He said the four suspects have been arraigned in court and charged.
“We are continuing with our operations to ensure plastic ban is fully complied with,” he added.
Saadia Hashim Mohamed who led the enforcement team said the agency will continue with their operations to ensure all environmental laws are complied with.
“We have issued warnings to institutions who did not adhere to EDL and we expect them to abide by the law or we charge them,” she said.
“We are also engaging institutions to ensure compliance of environmental audit report,” she added. The NEMA officers were backed by the police and county enforcement officers.
By Jacob Songok
