It was the end of the road for one of Juja’s entrepreneurial spirits after a NEMA raid uncovered his illegal enterprise.
The raid, reported on Tuesday, March 4, impounded machines that manufacture plastics, as well as rolls of plastic at the designated plant.
According to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the machines uncovered would serve as exhibits in court.
Plastic manufacturing machine found in Juja, Kiambu on Thursday, March 3, 2020.
@NemaKenya
“Plastic manufacturing machines and rolls seized and retained as exhibits at Mugutha, Juja, Kiambu County,” provided the authority.
The owner of the plant took flight upon realizing that his game was up. When arraigned in court, the entrepreneur stands to face a hefty fine of between Ksh2 million to Ksh4 million or imprisonment of 1-4 years or both for manufacturing equipment the banned bags.
The raid has followed a slew of similar arrests reported by the authority over the past two days.
A truck in Kitui suffered the same fate after it was captured transporting the illegal bags on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.
It was found with 160 bales of 80 pieces of black plastic bags. It also had 30 cartons each with 100 packets of clear plastic bags.
Cartons of plastic bags impounded from a truck in Kitui on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.
@NemaKenya
According to the authority, the culprits had already had their day in court. “The occupants were arraigned in court, pleaded guilty and were granted a cash bail of Ksh 500,000,” NEMA informed.
Three people in Narok also came under the wide net cast by the authority when they were found using the banned plastic bags.
The trio had their day in court on Wednesday, March 4 when they pleaded guilty to the charges. They were fined between Ksh 10,000 and Ksh 50,000.
The plastic bag ban in Kenya took effect on August 28, 2017. The ban carried hefty consequences with those in breach staring at fines of up to Ksh4 million but not less than Ksh2 million or up to four years and not less than one year in prison.
NEMA provides that in the two years the ban has been in effect, the common sight of plastic bags littering the streets is no more.
Watch part of NEMA’s two-year status report video here: