Kisii County has been applauded for embracing the recently imposed ban on the use of plastic carrier bags.
According to area Director of Environment Edward Makori so far the County’s compliance rate was 80 percent, adding that extensive crackdowns and regular inspections across the county had shown that the public had welcomed the ban.
Speaking on Wednesday evening in his office the officer said during one of the crackdowns, they arrested a man who had in his possession 51,000 pieces of flat bags that he had imported from a neighbouring country.
The man he said, has since been arraigned before a Kisii court and the case is ongoing and he believes no trader will be in possession of the bags.
“The challenge we have is the importation of plastic bags from Tanzania through the porous Sirare border,” he said, adding that his officers together with other law enforcement agencies were however alert.
He warned the public against the use of the outlawed bags, saying that they risked a fine of up to Sh.2 million.
At the same time, Makori warned the public to be wary of impersonators who have been going round fleecing unsuspecting traders while posing as NEMA officials carrying out an inspection of plastic bags.
He said the organization officials have identification cards which they must produce before being allowed to inspect business premises.