Nema to Start Raid on Contraband Non-Woven Bags in Nairobi

The non-woven bags are now considered contraband effective today, 1st April 2019, and those caught in possession of the bags, considered to be of poor quality and hence disposable, will face arrest and jail term.

Importers, producers and consumers of the non-woven bags will all face the law since the ban is now effective. The bags that have become popular amongst Kenyans, after polythene bags were banned, and are stocked in supermarkets and retail shops where they are sold between 5 shillings to 20 shillings.

The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has declared a crackdown against the bags terming them ‘‘very thin, poor quality non-reusable bags”.

“The penalties are equal to those of banned plastic bags. We are not going to tell them our strategies; that today we will raid Mombasa, Nairobi or Nakuru,” said the Nema Director General, Professor Wahungu.

The move is aimed at conserving the environment and encouraging use of recyclable materials.

“To be clear, from today, non-woven bags are contraband and people will be arrested,” Prof Wahungu warned adding that the Government would not give amnesty to those arrested and Kenyans should hence just comply.

“We are just implementing a ban that came into effect in 2017; this is not a new order. Those selling and manufacturing the materials should cease or the law shall take its course,” Prof Wahungu noted.

Producers and importers of the non-woven bags have been blamed by the environmental authority for not seeking guidance on the specifications of the material allowed.

“You should even have consulted the Kenya Bureau of Standards. You refused to heed our calls then later you start crying foul asking where Nema was when you started producing the non-woven carrier bags,”a tough talking Prof Wahungu said.

“We clearances of materials that are allowed in the country and non-woven bags were not among them,” Prof. Wahungu maintained urging Kenyans to be environmental friendly.