Kenya has decided to get even more serious with the use of plastic bags, completely banning their production for any use and the importation, even by travellers, of any type of bag and for any use. Penalty: heavy fines and in some cases imprisonment.
According to an article in the law, plastic packaging would also be banned, but there could be exemptions, upon specific and prior request.
The new law was signed last 4 November, but has 30 days to come into force, time given to manufacturers and importers to comply. Within this grace period, manufacturers are required to declare existing stocks of plastic bags and outline alternative mechanisms to phase them out.
The call for stricter regulation had come from NEMA, according to which some manufacturers had managed in recent years to circumvent the 2017 ban on plastic bags by adding non-biodegradable chemicals to their products, thus violating environmental laws.
Under the new legislation, individuals or entities found to be producing, selling or using plastic bags in violation of the law face penalties of up to four years in prison, or fines of up to Kes. 2 million.
Kenya's crackdown on plastic bags comes just days before the fifth and final meeting of the UN's Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which aims to develop a global plastic treaty.
‘It is time for African leaders to come together and call for a treaty that prioritises the elimination of hazardous chemicals, ensures transparency and incorporates mechanisms for labelling, tracking, monitoring and data sharing,’ said Centre for Environmental Justice and Development (CEJAD) Executive Director Griffins Ochieng.
Globally, plastic production has more than doubled in the last 15 years, with annual output reaching 400 million tonnes. However, less than 10% of this plastic is recycled, leaving large quantities to accumulate in ecosystems.
This pollution damages biodiversity and burdens marine and terrestrial environments. Experts warn that plastic pollution is not only an environmental challenge, but also a crisis affecting climate, health and social justice.
Kenya's decisive action and the upcoming INC5 negotiations are seen as crucial moments in addressing these issues. Environmental advocates hope that these efforts will set a precedent for other nations to take tougher measures and contribute to a comprehensive global response to plastic pollution.