Travellers heading to Kenya will need to hand over plastic bags, including those used to transport duty free goods when arriving into the country, after the East African nation implemented a ban on their use at the end of August.
Kenyans use an estimated 24 million bags a month and they have become an “environmental nightmare,” said the country’s Environment Minister Judy Wakhungu, causing widespread pollution, blocking drains and deaths of livestock.
The ban applies to the use, manufacture and importation of all plastic bags, with a potential fine of up to $40,000 or four years in jail facing those who ignore the law.
The move aligns Kenya with nearby African neighbour, Rwanda, which introduced a similar ban in 2008, while more than 40 other countries have already either outlawed, partially banned or taxed their use, including China, France and Italy.
