Nema moves to curb plastic bags entry through Ethiopia border

National Environment Management Authority has announced plans to initiate strict measures to curb the entry of plastic bags in Kenya through the porous Ethiopian border.

The Nema board of management visited the Moyale One Stop Border Point and Kenya Revenue Authority Customs office on Tuesday to engage in discussions on how to come up with stringent modalities to stop plastic bags from getting into Kenya.

During the meeting, Moyale One Stop border station manager Isack Njoka expressed the need to have an incinerator in Moyale to dispose off condemned goods mainly fuel and food stuffs.

"As a result, the Authority committed to facilitating the customs office to establish an incinerator through COMESA," Nema said in a statement.

"Nema will also establish an office in Moyale to enhance enforcement with KRA of the banned plastic bags."

Nema said this will be done through the Border Management Committee (BMC) which will get rid of possible routes and suppliers of the banned plastic bags through the porous borders.

Njoka assured the members that they do not allow plastic bags to get into the country through the border.

Earlier, Nema said it would close county markets where traders are still using the banned plastic bags to package their products. 

The authority said it will be taking enforcement action on market managers who condone the use of the banned bags and further close the markets. 

Last year, Nema began a crackdown on those found with the banned plastic items.

Nema director-general Mamo Mamo told the Star that more than 100 traders and three wholesalers of banned plastic carrier bags were arrested and arraigned.

The Authority suspects that the banned plastics come from other countries such as Tanzania, Somalia and Uganda.

The authority has also been facing challenges in the border posts of Garissa, Mandera, Moyale, Busia, Taita Taveta and Namanga, among others.

The government has since banned single-use plastics in protected areas.