Here are some of the recent inspections;
Director General awareness campaign in Muthurwa and Wakulima market
The NEMA Director General Prof Geoffrey Wahungu on 6th March 2018 toured Wakulima and Muthurwa markets to assess the level of compliance with the plastic bags ban. The Director-General was particularly impressed by the level of compliance in the two markets where he called on other markets in the country to emulate them. The NEMA Director General Prof Geoffrey Wahungu on 6th March 2018 toured Wakulima and Muthurwa markets to assess the level of compliance with the plastic bags ban. The Director-General was particularly impressed by the level of compliance in the two markets where he called on other markets in the country to emulate them.
NEMA Director General, Prof Geoffrey Wahungu creates awareness on the packing of clothes during the tour of Muthurwa market
“Today, we came here not to carry out inspections or enforcement. We have come here to access the level of compliance and create awareness on the plastic bags ban”, Prof Wahungu said. He added that the Authority has engaged the chairman’s of the market and the sector leaders who we have engaged and have taken the role of ensuring that no plastic bags are being used in the market. He urged traders of the markets to continue complying with the ban and examples to other markets who are still using plastic bags. Prof Wahungu encouraged the traders to practice voluntary compliance with the plastic bags ban.
NEMA arrests traders with 75 tonnes
NEMA arrested two businessmen suspected to be selling banned plastic bags. The company located along Likoni road in Industrial area was found in possession of 75 tonnes of banned plastic bags.NEMA arrested two businessmen suspected to be selling banned plastic bags. The company located along Likoni road in Industrial area was found in possession of 75 tonnes of banned plastic bags.The operation was led by NEMA Director General Prof Geoffrey Wahungu. Chief inspection officer, Mr, Robert Orina and Nairobi County Director of Environment, Njoki Mukiri were also part of the operation.
NEMA Nairobi County Director for Environment, Njoki Mukiri holding some of the nabbed plastic bags in a godown in Industrial Area in Nairobi
“We got a tip from members of the public that there was an industry that was still having the banned plastic and we decide to come and inspect the premise,” Orina said. Orina added that the Authority suspected that the plastic bags were being sneaked into the market at night, some of which were causing problems in implementing the ban. Despite the argument that the premise had been licensed to recycle plastic bags, the inspectors found out that the type of bags being recycled were different from the batches of plastic bags in their stores. Orina urged manufacturers to come to NEMA and declare their stock instead of waiting to be nabbed and plastics seized. Njoki Mukiri noted that despite challenges here and there in Nairobi County, compliance with the ban has hit 90 percent.
Burma market closed over plastic bags
NEMA on Thursday 22nd February 2018 ordered the closure of Burma market in Nairobi for failure of the traders to comply with the plastic bags ban. In a letter signed by the Director General Geoffrey Wahungu and sent to acting Nairobi County Secretary Leboo Ole Morintat, NEMA said that the market will remain closed until the County demonstrates full compliance with the plastic bags ban. The ban on plastics was effected on August 2017.
Ground inspection by the Authority had established that traders at Burma market were using the banned plastic bags. ‘The authority hereby orders the closure of Burma market immediately and within 24 hours after the receipt of this order,’ read the letter. NEMA had consulted with all law enforcement agencies in Nairobi, including the county police commander and his team and county askaris, all who will ensure the shutdown is enforced. However, on Friday 24th February 2018, NEMA officials, Burma Market Committee Members and the area MP held a meeting which aimed at coming up with a long term solution to the problem. Led by the committee chairman the members said that the traders at Burma market had agreed to comply and stop the use of plastic bags and surrendered all that they had in store. Several batches of plastic bags were surrendered by the traders.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, NEMA Deputy Director Enforcement, Salome Machua said that they have gone around the market and have seen a high level of compliance by the traders and assured them that she will talk to the Director-General so that he can pull down the closure but told the traders the closure is still on until the DG approves its re-opening.
Crackdown on plastic bags in Narok, Bomet and Kisii
Over the weekend of 24th and 25th February 2018, NEMA conducted massive crack in Narok, Bomet and Kisii Counties. During the raid in the three counties, more than 15 traders were arrested for being in possession and using the banned plastic bags.
A team from Nairobi headquarters joined officers from each of the counties where crackdown on plastic bags was carried out. The team was led by NEMA Deputy Director for compliance, Mr. Zephania Ouma.
Speaking in Kisii during the inspection, Mr. Ouma stated that the inspectors were targeting small-scale traders who have continued to wrap foodstuffs in plastic bags in small quantities for sale. Mr. Ouma said they were out to ensure that the sellers of plastic bags across the country had no market since most Kenyans had embraced other forms of carrying their goods.
NEMA Deputy Director for Compliance, Mr. Zephania Ouma during the inspections in Keroka, Kisii County
Plastic bags inspections in Mlolongo
NEMA conducted an inspection on the banned plastic carrier bags on 22nd February 2018. During the raid, several bags of plastic carrier bags were discovered. Although the company had been licensed by NEMA to recycle plastic bags, it had not declared to the Authority the plastic bags in their possession. Mr. Simiyu said that a decision had been reached to destroy the plastics on site under the supervision of NEMA officials and the police.
The environmental inspectors and police from NEMA and Mlolongo police station were led by County Director of Environment in Machakos, Mr. Titus Simiyu. The operation led to a Godown in Mlolongo after being tipped that it was in possession of the banned plastic carrier bags.
Those arrested during the inspections contravening the ban on plastic bags have been arraigned in various courts.
NEMA County Director for Machakos County (L) with Environment Officer, Grace Maina (C) with a trader inspecting a godown in Mlolongo, Machakos County
Inspections in Ngong town, Kajiado County
NEMA led a crackdown on plastic bags usage in Ngong town on 2nd March 2018. During the crackdown, four traders were arrested. Speaking to the media during the operation, NEMA head of waste unit, Maurine Njeri stated that the Authority is committed to continued implementation of the ban. The crackdown was carried out in collaboration with Kajiado NEMA County officers. During the arrest, the four were found with large quantities of plastic bags in their stores. The officers also took the opportunity to create awareness to the traders to facilitate compliance with the ban.
Suspects charged over plastic bags in Mombasa
NEMA has continued with the crackdown on plastic bags ban. In Mombasa, 21 suspects on 8th March 2018 were charged before a Mombasa court for using plastic bags. The suspects were arrested in Kongowea, Marikiti, Majengo and Mwembe Tayari markets. Eighteen (18) of the suspects pleaded guilty and were each charged Ksh 30,000 each or a jail term of eight months. One pleaded not guilty, one was released on medical grounds and one released for being underage.
The crackdown was carried by NEMA Mombasa office in collaboration with the County inspectorate department. Offenders found producing, selling, importing or using plastic bags risk imprisonment of up to four years or fines of up to Sh 4 million.