The government is in the process of coming up with new guidelines aimed at managing plastic bags in the country.
There is a possibility the guidelines could be finalised this week according to National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) Communications Director, Evans Nyabuto.
Currently, NEMA in consultation with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources is developing the guidelines that are likely to enforce the ban on use, manufacture and importation for commercial and household packaging.
Nema and the Ministry intend to release the guidelines but Nyabuto says it is work still in progress. “The guidelines are being developed in consultation with the ministry of Environment,” said Nyabuto.
On March 14, 2017 Environment Cabinet Secretary, Prof. Judi Wahungu gazetted regulations to pressurise the country to eradicate plastic bags menace. The increased use of plastic bags has been the leading cause of environmental degradation, Wakhungu said.
According to the gazette notice, there are two categories of plastic bags that have been banned by the CS. These are ‘Carrier bag’ which she defines as bags “constructed with handles, and with or without gussets” and ‘Flat bag’ which is “constructed without handles, and with or without gussets.”
The ban makes Kenya the 11th country to take action in support of the United Nations Environment campaign. In Africa, Rwanda and Morocco have already banned plastic bags and other countries are set to announce measures in the coming weeks.
