Two arrested for possessing plastic bags

National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) and police officers in Tharaka Nithi County have arrested two business people for possessing 10,000 pieces of the banned plastic bags.

Led by the county Nema director Joseph Kamau, the officers who included those from the neighbouring Meru County, ransacked shops in Chuka and Kibugua towns where they found the bags.

Addressing journalists after the operation, Mr Kamau said they suspected the two business people were the key suppliers of the papers in the two towns.

"The two will be arraigned tomorrow so they can set an example to those others who are still using these papers," said Mr Kamau.

The offence attracts a fine of Sh2 to Sh4million and an imprisonment of one to two years.

The director said they had managed to eliminate the usage of plastic carrier bags in the county but some business people were still sneaking in clear flat bags overnight which they sell to hawkers and grocery operators.

"We are not sure of the source of these papers but we suspect they sneak in from our neighbouring countries where usage of plastic bags is still legal," the director said.

He said the crackdown will continue until the environment is free from the dangerous papers and Traders should be warned that the ban is still in force.

Mr Kamau directed his officers to make frequent patrols in the entire County to ensure appropriate action was taken against notorious Traders who were still using the plastic bags.