Officials from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) have arrested four people in Garissa County accused of using banned plastic carrier bags.
NEMA County Director Adhan Bile said the four were arrested in the last one week as the crackdown on the sale and use of plastic bags in the county continues.
Bile said preliminary investigations indicate that the banned plastic bags are being smuggled into the country illegally from the neighbouring Somalia.
The county director said the four have already been arraigned in court and charged for violating the plastic bag ban order.
He vowed that the crackdown will continue until the plastic bags menace is eliminated in the county adding that those caught will be arrested and charged.
“I want to send a warning to those behind the business that we will soon catch up with them. We are continuing with our operations to ensure plastic ban is fully complied with,” said Bile.
Saadia Hashim Mohamed who led the enforcement team urged the residents, business owners and institutions to ensure they comply with the environmental laws to avoid arrest.
“We have issued warnings to institutions who did not adhere to Efficient Discharge License (EDL) and we expect them to abide by the law or we charge them. We are also engaging institutions to ensure compliance of environmental audit report,” said Hashim.