Bungoma National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) office has intensified its crackdown on banned plastic bags and issued a stern warning on those still defying the ban.
Speaking to the press in his office, Bungoma County Nema Director Vincent Mahiva noted that the authority made the move after realising that business people in Bungoma are still using plastic bags to wrap bread, mandazi, meat and other foodstuffs.
Mahiva argues that wrapping foodstuffs in plastic bags is a great threat to human life.
The director stated that with Bungoma bordering Uganda in Malaba, locals have taken advantage of the porous border to sneak in plastic bags into the country.
“I have done my investigations and noticed that the plastic bags that are being used here on our markets are sneaked into our territory through the Malaba border, I have launched a manhunt on those bringing them,” Mahiva added.
Mahiva noted that a crackdown conducted last week on Friday saw seven people arrested for defying the Nema guidelines.
Those found with banned plastics risk paying a fine of between Sh2 million and Sh 4 million, or a jail term of between one and two years, or both
“Nema doesn’t only focus on plastic bags but also checks abattoirs, health facilities and hotels to ensure they operate in line with the required standards,” Mahiva said.
He says that the authority works closely with the ministry of interior.
He argues that the plastic bags were banned by the government a long time ago and called on the general public to desist from using the banned plastics.
By Abigael Nekesa
