Two Kenyan drivers have been sentenced to a 20-year Jail term or paid a fine of Ksh. 20 million shillings each for ferrying scrap metals to Tanzania without a license to do such business.
Before a magistrate in Loitoktok law courts, Francis Njoroge and Njama pleaded guilty to transporting scrap metals to the neighboring country without a necessary license from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
The duo was charged with the violation of a 2015 law that was imposed to criminalize the exportation of scrap metals.
The law states that “A person shall not deal in scrap metal unless that person has a license issued by the council and is a member of scrap metal dealers Association.”
It also bans the exportation of scrap metals including spent lead-acid batteries (SLABS).
The law was imposed with the aim of retaining raw materials for value addition purposes, and to tighten the environment for lead.
These two drivers are the first victims of the violation of the law.
