The ban on plastic bags took effect on August 28, 2017. [Photo/allafrica.com]
Small traders in Narok County are likely to incur losses amounting to Sh3 million following the ban of plastic bags.
Speaking to the press in Narok town, the County Chairman of Chamber of Commerce Mr. David Mpatiany said most businesspersons had huge stock of the plastic bags that they had purchased at the beginning of the year before the ban was gazetted on February 28th this year.
Mpatiany asked the government to give incentives to small traders who were dealing with plastic bags business in part as a part of their business so that they cannot incur a total loss.
He, however, indicated that his department will hold sensitization meetings in the entire county to educate the traders on the need to use the alternative methods package their products.
According to Kenya News Agency, a spot check in the major retail outlets in Narok town shows that most traders have adopted the use alternative means to package their products.
The leading supermarkets, Naivas and Tuskys had introduced non-plastic materials – cloth like bags that they used to package items in.
However, for customers purchasing small size goods like stationery and cosmetics, the goods were not wrapped in any bag.
Peter Lepore, a shopper at Tuskys Supermarket said he is contented with the new law saying it will go hand in hand in maintaining a clean environment for both the human and domestic animals.
The traders were required to clear stocks within the grace period given from February 28th to August 28th this year but some have not found suitable alternatives to their businesses such as small stalls that deal in perishables vegetables and fruits.