• Being found with plastics in Kenya attracts a fine of Sh2 million to Sh4 million or a jail term of one to two years, or both.
• Countries of concern include Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan.
Kenya’s porous borders, coupled with unscrupulous traders, have increased banned single-use plastics.
The influx of banned plastics finding their way into the country has forced the government back to the drawing board.
Countries of concern include Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan.
National Environment Management Authority board chairman John Konchellah has the crackdown has intensified. Kenya is also engaging other governments that still use the bags and urging them to stop the smuggling.
"We are using the East African Legislative Assembly as a platform," Konchellah said.
Kenya banned the use of single-use carrier bags in February 2017. The ban took effect on August 28, 2017.
It applied to all plastic carrier bags and flat bags used for commercial and household packaging.
Being found with plastics in Kenya attracts a fine of Sh2 million to Sh4 million or a jail term of one to two years or both.
Before the ban took effect, manufacturers were given six months to clear their stock.
Rwanda became the first county to ban plastics in 2008 while Burundi followed in 2018. Tanzania banned single-use plastics last year.
However, some countries still use plastic bags despite the introduction of the East African Community Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2016.
In Uganda, the use of plastics is still allowed even after President Yoweri Museveni signed into law the National Environment Management Bill.
According to the UN, the rate at which plastics are being dumped is worrying. By 2050, it says, oceans will carry more plastic than fish and an estimated 99 per cent of seabirds will have ingested plastic.
Konchellah said police officers working with Nema enforcement teams are under instructions to arrest and prosecute all those found with the banned plastics. Vernacular radio stations are used to raise awareness.
Following the ban on plastics, Kenya was praised internationally. However, the ban opened floodgates for the non-woven polypropylene bags replacing carrier bags.
Following the challenges posed by the non-woven bags, Nema directed all manufacturers, importers, suppliers/distributors and users of the bags to stop further manufacture, importation, supply and use by March 31 last year.
Edited by R.Wamochie