Kenya is set to ban plastic bags in Kenya from this September. This is according to the cabinet secretary for Environment Judy Wakhungu.

“It is notified to the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources has with effect from 6 months from the date of this notice banned the use, manufacture and importation of all plastic bags used for commercial and household packaging,” stated Prof Wakhungu in a gazette notice dated February 28.

A 2007 attempt at cleaning up the country by banning the manufacture and import of bags widely failed. Rwanda is the only country in the region which has effectively banned use of plastic bags.

In the notice, the CS states that the banned plastic bags fall in in two categories — carrier bags and flat bags.

She defines a carrier bag as one that is “constructed with handles, and with or without gussets” while a flat bag is one that is “constructed without handles, and with or without gussets”.

In tailoring, a gusset is defined as an extra piece of clothing sewn into another cloth to make it wider, stronger or more comfortable.

However, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) Chief Executive Phylis Wakiaga has complained that the ban would greatly affect manufacturers.

“Currently, we have over 176 plastic manufacturing companies in Kenya, which directly employ 2.89 per cent of all Kenyan employees and indirectly employ over 60,000 people. These jobs and livelihoods will be negatively affected by this ban,” said Ms Wakiaga.