This archive report was first published on 21 July 2019.
July 21, 2019
Kenya's remarkable progress in reducing plastic bag use since the government banned their manufacture, sale, and use two years ago is under threat due to the smuggling of plastic bags through porous borders.
The single-use bags are being smuggled into the country by unscrupulous traders, who risk a Sh4 million fine or a four-year jail term to engage in this lucrative business.
Despite the ban, many traders in open-air markets, supermarkets, and other retailers are still selling their products in plastic bags, largely due to their convenience.
The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has stepped up its crackdown on traders, arresting scores and hauling them to court, but the bags remain in circulation.
Nema has revealed that the bags are being smuggled in from Uganda, Tanzania, and even lawless Somalia, making it a major regional challenge that requires sustained cooperation to stem the tide.
Plastic bags are a significant contributor to environmental pollution that knows no borders, and it is encouraging to hear that Nema is seeking regional cooperation in the fight against the plastic bag menace.
The agency plans to solicit the support of environmental authorities in other East African member states to tackle the problem, building on the success of Kenya and Tanzania, which have banned the manufacture and use of plastic bags.
Rwanda has been free of plastic bags for nearly a decade, and it is time for Uganda and Burundi to step up surveillance and monitoring to block imports from Somalia.
A properly coordinated regional campaign is necessary to rid the countries of these pollutants and ensure the gains made since the ban are not undermined.
