They join Kenya and Tanzania in leading efforts to enhance their national security through environmental regulation:

The Government, [Environment state minister Jessica] Eriyo said, took the “drastic steps” on the bags because “people out there do not know how to manage them properly” and warned that the enforcement of the law would not be easy.

“Habits are difficult to change and we need a lot of sensitisation.”

Justifying the ban, Eriyo said the plastics block channels, compromise water quality and degrade soil, which is important for agriculture.

Meanwhile, cities in America struggle with corporate lobbyists to make any progress at all. Note this complaint from the American Chemistry Council, who represents plastics corporations, that tries to prevent a ban on non-biodegradable plastics:

Also troubling is the suggestion that this ordinance will help to reduce litter. To the contrary, mandating the use of biodegradable plastics is likely to increase the incidence of litter. Many people mistakenly believe that bags labeled “biodegradable”? or “compostable”? will readily decompose in the natural environment; a misperception that could, in all likelihood, increase tolerance for improper waste disposal.

Their proposed alternative solution is to do nothing more than encourage people to recycle plastic bags instead. Oh boy. Claiming consumers are too ignorant to do the right thing as an argument against the ban on plastic bags? Where has the logic gone?

Ban the bags and get it over with. If the East African countries can step up to the challenge of improving water quality, surely Americans can handle it as well, no?