- Ban on plastics came into effect in August 2017 but they are smuggled in and making a retort to the once detested days.
- On February 27, 2017, the Environment Ministry prohibited the use of plastic carrier bags through a gazette notice.
- The 19 who were busted on Wednesday were slapped with Sh 50,000 fine each.
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The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) on Wednesday apprehended 18 people in Nairobi county found with banned single-use plastics.
Yesterday another unspecified number was also busted in a sting undertaking meant to weed out the contraband.
Some of the plastic bags that the NEMA officials collected.
One of those arrested during the Wednesday operation was charged with dumping.
The operation is being conducted by a multi-agency team comprised of inspectors from NEMA, the National Police Service officials as well as the Nairobi county government.
Nema’s Nairobi director of enforcement Catherine Thaithi oversaw the operation tweeted. “We will continue with the operation until we are satisfied that there are no banned plastics in use. It will be done weekly,” Thaithi said.
The crackdown on single-use plastics is taking place nationally.
The Wednesday sting operation took place in Wakulima Market, Kamiti Road, where vendors of the banned plastics were rounded up. Then they were taken to City Hall Court where they faced charges relating to possession of banned plastics.
The 18 who were arrested on Wednesday were fined Sh50,000 each.
All of those arrested were users.
Nema is using intelligence to nab those still producing them.
On Thursday, the officials conducted the operation at Nairobi West, South C and South B where 15 other people were arrested.
Those caught unaware were eateries and those selling vegetables, sugar cane.
They were yet to be arraigned before City Hall Court by press time.
On February 27, 2017, the Environment Ministry banned the use of thin plastic carrier bags through a gazette notice.
The ban came into effect in August of that year.
Possession of such plastics attracts a fine of Sh2 million to Sh4 million, or a jail term of one to two years, or both.
Before 2017, about 100 million non biodegradable plastic bags were used in Kenyan supermarkets every year, with severe consequences for the environment.
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