Bio-kaveera use irks Kenyan authorities
Jul 24, 2005
NAKUMATT, the biggest supermarket chain in Kenya, has started giving biodegradable <i>kaveera</i> to its shoppers.
By Reuben Olita
NAKUMATT, the biggest supermarket chain in Kenya, has started giving biodegradable kaveera to its shoppers.
The latest developments has irked environmentalists, who have called on the government to end the plastic bags menace in Kenya.
Kenya environmental minister, Kalonzo Musyoka, was among the dignitaries, who witnessed the launch of what the leading chain described as ‘recyclable bio-degradable bags.
The kaveera, which is now in use in all its outlets in Nairobi, Nakuru and Mombasa has unique features with some writings, which includes inter alia: “You can’t live without plastics. Live with plastics responsibly. Keep your country tidyâ€.
The launch has enlisted outcry with BBC radio leading the pack in revealing the chain had launched the production of bags, which were not environmentally-friendly.
The report was countered by the chain, which went ahead to defend the kaveera. A company official, Isaac Oyengo, while defending the new ‘product’ said the bags were environmentally-friendly.
“These special plastic bags are indeed friendly to the environment. Once left on the earth surface for three days, they would decompose, thus providing a source of manure,†he said.
As Nakumatt came out to defend the kaveera, most supermarkets in the country, including Uchumi, Tusker mattresses and Ukwala were using them and with environmentalists keeping mum on the scenario.
However, the government has come out strongly to defuse claims that it was doing very little to avert the situation as pollution continues to render most rivers unusable, owing to waste papers.
Musyoka said his ministry in conjunction with that of local authorities had been mandated to enforce anti-litter laws. The minister added manufacturers of plastic bags would be made to foot the bill of cleaning up the environment.
“We have received many complaints on kaveera’s negative impact on the environment, thus the need to impose stiffer penalties on the producers of such papers,†he said at the launch of a plastic waste management project in Nairobi.
They urged constituency development funds to make plastic waste management a top priority.
Nobel peace laureate, Wangari, who is the deputy environment minister, has done little in her quest to rid the country of kaveeras.
The government is also showing serious signs with the debate on forest bill 2005 that will address challenges of population growth, unemployment and envrironmental degradation among others.
NAKUMATT, the biggest supermarket chain in Kenya, has started giving biodegradable kaveera to its shoppers.
The latest developments has irked environmentalists, who have called on the government to end the plastic bags menace in Kenya.
Kenya environmental minister, Kalonzo Musyoka, was among the dignitaries, who witnessed the launch of what the leading chain described as ‘recyclable bio-degradable bags.
The kaveera, which is now in use in all its outlets in Nairobi, Nakuru and Mombasa has unique features with some writings, which includes inter alia: “You can’t live without plastics. Live with plastics responsibly. Keep your country tidyâ€.
The launch has enlisted outcry with BBC radio leading the pack in revealing the chain had launched the production of bags, which were not environmentally-friendly.
The report was countered by the chain, which went ahead to defend the kaveera. A company official, Isaac Oyengo, while defending the new ‘product’ said the bags were environmentally-friendly.
“These special plastic bags are indeed friendly to the environment. Once left on the earth surface for three days, they would decompose, thus providing a source of manure,†he said.
As Nakumatt came out to defend the kaveera, most supermarkets in the country, including Uchumi, Tusker mattresses and Ukwala were using them and with environmentalists keeping mum on the scenario.
However, the government has come out strongly to defuse claims that it was doing very little to avert the situation as pollution continues to render most rivers unusable, owing to waste papers.
Musyoka said his ministry in conjunction with that of local authorities had been mandated to enforce anti-litter laws. The minister added manufacturers of plastic bags would be made to foot the bill of cleaning up the environment.
“We have received many complaints on kaveera’s negative impact on the environment, thus the need to impose stiffer penalties on the producers of such papers,†he said at the launch of a plastic waste management project in Nairobi.
They urged constituency development funds to make plastic waste management a top priority.
Nobel peace laureate, Wangari, who is the deputy environment minister, has done little in her quest to rid the country of kaveeras.
The government is also showing serious signs with the debate on forest bill 2005 that will address challenges of population growth, unemployment and envrironmental degradation among others.