Manufacturers and bakers in Machakos County are yet to adhere to the new regulations imposed by NEMA on plastic bags' ban.
Locals said NEMA officials were busy harassing consumers who carry goods on plastic bags while protecting the manufacturers.
"These regulations are limited to consumers only while the manufacturers are spared," said Melvin Liabeya.
Liabeya, a trader at Njuguini in Athi River, said as traders and residents they were disappointed with the National Environmental Management Authority for failing to effectively implement the ban in Machakos County.
She spoke to this writer at Athi River town in Machakos County on Monday.
NEMA placed a notice to ban the manufacture, importation and usage of plastic bags across the country with effect from August 28, 2017.
Luabeya said many shops and kiosks in Athi River town and its environs had not adhered to the regulation since the ban was imposed.
A spot check conducted by this writer across the country over the weekend revealed that many manufactures and bakers were openly using the banned plastic bags.
"Usage of plastic bags is still evident in many roadside stall's, hawkers and retailers are repackaging commodities using plastic bags across the county," said John Mugambi, a businessman at Machakos Bus Park.
"Bakers are still adamant to change their packaging like breads and cakes famously known as 'KDF', we are disappointing by the failure of authorities to sue the manufacturers supplying commodities packaged in plastic bags," added Mugambi.
Mugambi said the government should crackdown on the culprits to eliminate plastic bags from the market.
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