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.