Vihiga Police Made Seven Arrests For Selling Prohibited Plastic Bags

In Mbale town, Vihiga County, seven traders were detained on Wednesday after being found in possession of prohibited plastic bags.

The re-entry of plastic bag smuggling organizations into western Kenyan towns has raised concerns. In 2017, Kenya completely outlawed single-use plastic bags. Even though the commodity is not being sold in plain view, it is nonetheless being sold. After a crackdown by the National Environment Management Agency (Nema) and the police on vendors using the outlawed bags, the offenders were apprehended. The raid followed concerns that the majority of western Kenya’s plastic carrying bags were still in use.

Director of Nema Vihiga County Hesborn Monda was in charge of the operation.

“We’ve taken seven people into custody who were using the prohibited plastic bags. This demonstrates that some dishonest traders are still breaking the law in this regard, according to Mr. Monda.

Despite the harsh penalties the government imposes on anybody discovered breaking the law, the traders continue to use plastic bags. Those found in possession of the prohibited bags would be fined Sh50,000, according to a 2017 announcement from the Environment Ministry, while manufacturers who disobeyed the prohibition would face fines ranging from Sh2 million to Sh4 million.

In Mbale, Chavakali, and Luanda in Vihiga, among other places in Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, and Uasin Gishu counties, backstreet vendors sell the majority of the plastic bags that are illegally smuggled through permeable border crossings.

The individuals detained will appear in court to answer for breaking the plastic ban legislation. Mr. Monda reminded the merchants that the purpose of the plastics ban is to protect the environment. The neighboring counties of Kakamega, Nandi, and Uasin Gishu also experienced the crackdown.