We lack the will to live under the very laws we have crafted

While en route from an international trip with a colleague Pastor, he purchased some goods at a duty free shop, which were duly packed for him in beautiful plastic bags. Upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a customs official pulled him aside and duly informed him that he could not enter the country with his plastic bags. The Pastor had to empty his goods into the trolley as his beautiful bags were thrown into the trash bin. Needless to say, we were both greatly impressed, and indeed Pastor thanked and congratulated the officer for his diligence in enforcing the law.

In an almost similar incident, I purchased some goods in a shop at a Kenyan border town. The shopkeeper proceeded to pack them into plastic bags. When I drew his attention to the fact that plastic bags had been banned, he confidently replied, “These are not Kenyan. We get our plastics from across the border.” And indeed, all over that town, there was no evidence that there was a plastic ban. The implication is that at that border entry, there were customs officers either ignorant of the law, or had chosen to turn a blind eye as plastic bags were readily imported.