Over 60,000 Kenyans risk being rendered jobless in August after the directive by the Ministry of Environment to ban the manufacture of plastic bags.
The ban will affect approximately 176 companies which will be required to shut down or face legal action from the government.
The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) discredited the move indicating that the problem was not with plastic bags but with consumer behaviour and waste management.
The manufacturers also accused the government of giving a short realignment period and not consulting them before publishing the notice.
Companies manufacturing plastics bags and concerned Kenyans pleaded with the government to lift the ban as most people will be affected.
"I can’t congratulate you at all what do you think all those Kenyans working on those companies will do?” David Mutune a concerned Kenyan noted.
According to the employees, the Ministry should find other alternatives for addressing the menace and not entirely banning the manufacture of plastic bags.
Other Kenyans, however, applauded the move indicating that it was the right step in cleaning up the environment.
“Good stuff Waziri, now we need to get together, get rid of all the plastic waste and find a proper way to dispose them. The environment will be cleaner and well preserved for our children.” Yvonne Munguti posted.
Read Also: Kenyan Government Bans Use of Plastic Bags
