Nema officers arrest 10 in Kisii for use of polythene
Ten people were on Wednesday arrested from at several markets withn Kisii County after they were found selling and using banned polythene papers during an operation conducted by the National Environment Management Authority ( NEMA) officers.
Led by Robert Orina in charge of the Directorate of Enforcement, the officers raided Nyakoe, Keumbu and Kisii town markets where they arrested traders and suppliers of the papers.
The officer said the traders and butchery owners used the papers to sell vegetables, meat and other food stuff, saying the crackdown would continue nationally to ensure Kenyans complied.
He said the suppliers used boda boda operators to ferry them to markets to sell the papers to traders through the black market, and warned that NEMA officers will not relent in the campaign against the banned papers.
“ We are also targeting people along Busia and Isebania borders in Uganda and Tanzania respectively as we are determined to know the source of the papers to enable us stop the trade,” Orina told People Daily in Kisii town yesterday, adding that the suspects will be arraigned. He said plastic papers degraded the environment and caused cancer and warned that those found culpable risked a two year jail term or a fine of Ksh. 2 million.
The officer said the papers were dangerous to animals, as they cause ingestion leading to their deaths and losses to farmers.
Orina , accompanied by Kisii County NEMA Director, Leonard Ofula disclosed they are involving county enforcement officers to arrest traders and suppliers of the papers.
