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{
    "id": 1044825,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1044825/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 156,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr. Mbito)",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13225,
        "legal_name": "Michael Maling'a Mbito",
        "slug": "michael-malinga-mbito"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.47(1), to make a Statement on an issue of topical concern, namely, the need to check the quality of salt in the market. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Kenya is one of the countries where people are unknowingly consuming some good amount of micro plastics in table salt, according to a study. This is worrying given the widespread and high consumption of salt locally, and considering that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily consumption of at least five grams by adults. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the study by the University of Queensland, Australia, and the Federal University of Technology in Nigeria, further shows that also affected could be seafood, which still finds its way to our tables. While this is the first time a study is confirming the presence of plastic in table salt used in Kenya, it should be an eye opener on how we should dispose plastics and take care of the environment. Mr. Speaker, Sir, indiscriminate use of plastic, haphazard disposal and the dangers these pose, prompted the Government to impose a ban on single use plastics in 2017. We are not out of the woods yet, and everyone has a part to play. While the ban has been largely effective, some plastic still finds its way into the market due to laxity by law enforcers. An alarming development with an estimated eight million tons of plastic ending up in the oceans globally, it is most likely that some of it will end up contaminating the salt when it is harvested. The presence of plastic in salt can either cause physical damage to the body or result in chemical poisoning. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) should fight this threat by executing their duties diligently to ensure that Kenyans are safe. They are the bulwark against environmental degradation and poisonous substances getting onto our tables. I thank you."
}