This archive report was first published on 6 July 2019.
On Friday morning, officers from the National Environment Management Agency (Nema) in collaboration with the police arrested a middle-aged Kenyan man in Kimilili, Bungoma County.
The suspect was found with Sh275,000 in cash and 1,500 pieces of banned plastic bags during a crackdown on people still using polythene carrier bags in the area.
The operation was carried out as part of efforts to curb environmental pollution in the region.
Kenya banned plastic bags on February 28th, 2017, and the suspect is being held at a Bungoma police post.
According to Kimilili Sub-County Deputy Commissioner Joyce Onguso, the suspect will be taken to court once officers finalize investigations into the incident.
Officers are trying to establish how the suspected mentally ill man acquired the money and plastic carrier bags.
Bungoma lead environment officer Rob Kipkoech revealed that the plastic bags are sneaked into the country from neighboring Uganda.
