Garissa's plastic waste crisis threatens environment and health

Garissa County is grappling with a severe plastic waste crisis that has clogged drainage systems, polluted farmlands, and endangered both human and animal health.

The proliferation of plastic waste has led to blocked sewage systems, widespread environmental degradation, and growing fears of disease outbreaks, prompting urgent calls for action.

Plastic bags, notorious for their durability and slow decomposition, had become a pervasive problem, littering streets, clogging drainage systems, and polluting rivers and farmlands before the 2017 ban on single-use plastics.

The ban, enforced by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), prohibits the manufacture, sale, and use of single-use plastic bags, targeting a major source of pollution that has choked waterways, harmed ecosystems, and threatened public health across the country.

The Acting Garissa County Commissioner, Sabastian Okiring, described plastic waste as a "big menace" in the arid region, highlighting its devastating impact on Garissa's infrastructure and ecosystems.

"Walking through town, you'll find plastics almost all over, and they are choking us," said Okiring.

"Plastic has blocked all the drainages and our sewage system. As we stand here today, Garissa town is flooded with sewage."

He warned of the risk of deadly diseases like cholera if the situation is not addressed swiftly, urging those responsible to take immediate action to clear the sewage overflow.

The plastic crisis extends beyond urban infrastructure. Okiring noted that plastics have infiltrated farmlands, disrupting crop growth, and have been ingested by livestock, causing digestive issues and deaths.

"Plastic has gone into our soils and into our bodies through the normal food chain, and this is becoming very dangerous," he cautioned.

He also appealed to market vendors, including miraa dealers and small-scale traders, to stop using plastics for packaging to curb the spread of the pollutant.

Adikadir Aden, founder of the Million Trees Initiative, emphasized the toll on Northern Kenya's pastoralist communities.

"The majority of the people here are pastoralists, and plastic papers affect our lives and our livestock," Aden said following a stakeholder meeting on Monday.

He called for stricter enforcement of the 2017 ban on single-use plastics, which he said had previously reduced environmental degradation.

"I urge NEMA to take action against those who bring these plastic papers," he added, appealing to the government to reinforce the ban.

The ban imposes severe penalties, including fines of up to Sh4 million (approximately $40,000 at the time of implementation) or imprisonment for up to four years for those caught producing, selling, or using plastic bags.

Retailers and consumers were encouraged to adopt reusable alternatives, such as cloth or biodegradable bags, to reduce environmental harm.

Patricia Mumbi, Director of Environment at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling plastic pollution, one of the three major environmental challenges alongside climate change and biodiversity loss.

"Environment is our life, and each one of us has the responsibility to take care of it," Mumbi said during a press conference after meeting stakeholders in Garissa.

The officer highlighted NEMA’s ongoing efforts to enforce the 2017 single-use plastic ban and engage stakeholders to ensure a sustainable environment.

"Smuggling of plastic bags across Kenya’s borders, lax compliance in rural areas, and limited access to affordable alternatives have undermined the ban’s effectiveness.

Mumbi acknowledged that ending plastic pollution is "not a one-month affair," emphasizing the need for ongoing consultations with stakeholders, including manufacturers, traders, and communities, to sustain progress.

Kenya has seen notable reductions in plastic bag litter, particularly in urban centers like Nairobi and Mombasa.

The policy has inspired other African nations, including Rwanda and Tanzania, to adopt similar measures.

The NEMA official said the authority will continue to roll out regulations to address other forms of plastic pollution, such as single-use bottles and packaging, while promoting sustainable waste management practices.