The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has arrested 17 business owners in a sweeping four-day crackdown targeting environmental non-compliance in parts of Eastern Kenya.
The enforcement operation, conducted jointly with environmental police, took place across Wote, Tawa, Makindu, Kibwezi, and Kathonzweni towns. Offences cited include operating without mandatory environmental audits, lacking effluent discharge licences (EDL), and continuing the banned use of plastic bags.
In a statement released on Sunday, July 13, 2025, NEMA said the arrests form part of its wider mission to uphold national environmental standards and crack down on pollution.
“Seventeen proprietors were apprehended for disregarding key regulations, including the illegal use of plastic bags and failure to comply with licensing requirements,” read part of the authority’s update.
So far, two suspects have been arraigned at the Makueni Law Courts, with investigations ongoing for the remaining cases. NEMA warned that more charges are expected in the coming days.
The agency noted with concern the resurgence of flimsy, clear plastic bags among small-scale traders’ bags that have been outlawed since Kenya’s historic 2017 plastic ban.
The ban, spearheaded by NEMA, prohibits the manufacture, sale, distribution, and use of plastic carrier bags. Offenders risk fines of up to Ksh4 million or a prison sentence of up to four years.
Officials reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing the ban and urged the public to adopt sustainable alternatives such as biodegradable garbage bags, reusable cloth bags, or paper carriers.
NEMA earlier had stressed that environmental laws must be followed by all businesses, regardless of size or location.
This latest operation follows a series of similar crackdowns across the country targeting illegal gold mining, waste transport violations, and e-waste dumping, as Kenya intensifies efforts to combat pollution and safeguard ecosystems.
