TZ bound truck found with scrap metal
By Anthony.Mwangi, July 13, 2022A truck believed to have been transporting scrap batteries to Tanzania was intercepted on Mombasa Road two months after the government issued new guidelines regulating scrap metal business.
The truck was intercepted at Mboo Inzau and detained at Mashuru Police Station.
The government lifted the ban on scrap metal trade, which lasted six months, and gave strict guidelines, including issuance of new licenses, to regulate the sector.
Mashuru OCPD Charles Chepkonga said a multi-agency team was handling the matter.
“It is true we have the truck and the driver. The agencies concerned are following up the matter and we will be giving a detailed report later,” he said.
The National Environment Management Authority (Nema), which is among the agencies handling the matter, is seeking to establish if the transporter had the necessary licence from the authority.
“Yes we have taken over the matter. We want to establish whether the transporter has a licence from us which is a requirement under the law,” said Joseph Kopejo, Nema director in charge of Kajiado.
Porous borders
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), which is also involved in the probe, is pushing for more stringent penalties against unscrupulous scrap metal dealers exporting the product to neighbouring countries.
KRA deputy commissioner in charge of the western region Pamela Ahago says despite the business being outlawed, some traders were still exporting scrap automotive batteries using porous border points.
Last year, two drivers were jailed for transporting scrap batteries to Tanzania and the trucks confiscated.
Ahago said then that the authority was committed to eradicating the vice even as she called for enhanced vigilance among industry players.
The two drivers were convicted and fined Sh300,000 and their trucks forfeited to the State in line with the provisions of the Scrap Metal Act.
According to Ahago, the driver arrested in Isebania was trying to escape from customs officials when his truck broke down.
Nema Director-General Mamo Mamo said the authority, in partnership with other government agencies, had adopted an intelligence-based enforcement approach.
“This approach has really worked and has truly borne fruit, with arrests of the offenders dealing with hazardous waste along our porous borders,” Mamo said.
With the KRA tightening inspection regimes at the border points, scrap metal dealers have opted to use unmanned routes to smuggle their items.
Busia, Namanga, Taveta, and Lunga Lunga border points have been identified as the main routes used to drive the illegal scrap metal trade.
Offenders are liable to a jail term of up to 20 years or a fine of Sh20 million or both.