The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has intensified the crackdown on banned plastic bags in Makueni County where they are targeting eleven suspects for being in possession of the outlawed material.
The NEMA enforcement officers mounted a sting operation in Kathonzweni, Makindu town over the weekend and arrested the suspects in an exercise that targets to eliminate the use of illegal plastic bags found to be hurting the environment.
“We have witnessed emergency of banned plastic bags use in Makueni and following up on cases that we have picked up,” the NEMA Deputy Director of Environmental planning and Research Dr. Charles Lange told journalist after the swoop.
“Beginning of January NEMA rolled out a rapid results initiative exercise across the country to weed out those still trading in the illegal plastic bags to ensure there was compliance after enforcement team realizing that the banned products were still in circulation” he said.
Consequently, the director cautioned Kenyans against using the banned bags warning that those found flouting the directive will face the full force of the law.
“We hope that the rest of the Kenyans will get to know that indeed it’s illegal to use the banned plastic bags,” Lange said.
He said NEMA and other stakeholders in the sector were on high alert to monitor those involved in the spread of the banned carrier bags to protect the environment from further destruction.
Bonface Wanga, NEMA Enforcement officer in charge of Makueni urged the resident and business community to stop using the illegal bags warning that anyone contravening the ban will face the law.
“As Makueni we must stop using the banned illegal plastics bags, we are continuing with this exercise of eliminating the banned plastic bags in Kenya,” said Wanga.
He noted that the exercise also was part of sensitization to the public to avoid using the illegal plastic bags for a better environment.
“It’s our responsibility as citizens to keep our environment clean in order to benefit good health and for our future generations,” he added.
By Ronald Rono
