Kenya is now among eleven African countries to have slapped a ban on plastic bags.
The ban came into effect on the 28th of August. As from this date, anyone found selling, manufacturing or carrying them could face fines of up to $38,000 (£30,000) or prison sentences of up to four years. The government says the ban will help protect the environment.
Environmental campaign group, Greenpeace, congratulated Kenya with the tweet below:
Today is the BIG day! A huge thumbs up to Kenya for making this commitment! https://t.co/freZH2gL19 pic.twitter.com/FqZZAVMiDx
— Greenpeace Africa (@Greenpeaceafric) August 28, 2017
More than 40 other countries globally have banned, partly banned or taxed single use plastic bags, including China, France, Rwanda, and Italy.
It is estimated that Kenyans use 24 million bags a month. It took Kenya three attempts over 10 years to pass this ban. However not everyone is delighted about this ban
Samuel Matonda, spokesman for the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, said it would cost 60,000 jobs and force 176 manufacturers to close. Kenya is a major exporter of plastic bags to the region.
“The knock-on effects will be very severe,” Matonda said. “It will even affect the women who sell vegetables in the market – how will their customers carry their shopping home?”
