Visitors to national parks, beaches, forests and conservation areas will not be allowed to carry disposable plates, cups, straws, spoons, forks and water bottles, which are considered major environmental pollutants. This comes after a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta to ban the usage of single-use plastic products in all protected areas. The announcement was made in during the World Environment Day.
The ban comes two years after Kenya banned the use, manufacture and sale of environmentally harmful plastics, polythene bags and packaging materials.
“As you are aware, Kenya is hosting to the global environment programme, and has remained a campaigner for a sustainable environment. In light of this commitment, two years ago we banned the use, manufacture and sale of environmentally harmful plastics, polythene bags and packaging materials,” the President said.
Plastics have become a major nuisance for the environment with many littering the oceans, forests and even blocking drainages.