Vendors sell plastic and alternative bags in Nairobi/ THE STARKenyans have amazed the world with new ways of packaging commodities hours after the plastic bag ban came into effect on Monday.
Large supermarket chains and retailers countrywide started charging for shopping bags in a move to comply with the ban.
Major retail chains; Tuskys, Nakumatt, Uchumi and Quickmart were by last week exiting packaging customer shopping in plastic bags.
Instead shoppers are provided by non-plastic bag carriers at a fee. Yet, customers have been encouraged to carry their own shopping bags.
Traditional baskets, kiondo, have made a comeback. In line with a directive from the Ministry of environment, Kenyans could see the markets flooded by the traditional woven bags which in essence is a boost to the cottage industry.
Besides kiondos, papyrus and palm made baskets are on the stalls as an alternative.
In other quarters, traders of miraa and sukuma wiki used paper envelopes and khaki bags respectively.
Environment CS Prof Judi Wakhungu said that besides protecting the environment, the ban will spur growth of homegrown (cottage) industries dealing in alternative packaging material.
A Kenya Gazette notice published in March banned the use, manufacture and import of plastic bags for commercial and household packaging effective from August 28.
The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) warned that persons violating the ban face a fine of between Sh2 million and Sh4 million, or a jail term of between one and two years, or both.