Two people have been arrested after they were found in possession of more than 350, 000 pieces of banned plastic paper bags in Machakos county.
The duo was arrested in a sting operation conducted by National Environmental Management Authority officials from both Machakos and the national office in Nairobi on Tuesday.
County Nema director Parnwell Simitu said the two were distributors who supplied most parts of the county with the outlawed bags.
Simitu said the suspects were found in possession of 392, 070 plastic bags leading to their arrests.
He said they swiftly moved into action following an intelligence-based lead that there were some individuals within the town using and dealing in the distribution of the outlawed bags.
“We have raided Machakos market and arrested two distributors with 392, 070 pieces of banned plastic bags. We want to send a warning to the public that they should refrain from using these plastic bags,” Simitu said.
The two were processed and detained at Machakos police station pending arraignment.
“We hope that by arresting them, that will clear plastic bags in Machakos county. We want to tell the public that plastic bags are and have lots of negative impacts to the environment and livestock,” he said.
Simitu said they will continue with the enforcement until they wipe out all plastic bags in the country.
