The STAR Wednesday September16, 2009
By HILTON OTENYO

LOCAL authorities in Western Province have been told to create smoking zones to allow for the implementation of the Tobacco Control Act.
National Environmental Management Authority co-coordinator for the region  Barasa Wangwe yesterday blamed the delay in implementation of the law to slow action by the councils.

Wangwe said absence of zones within councils, especially municipalities, is a major hindrance to initiatives to control pollution and safeguard lives.
“Councils must come up with zoning criteria. By failing to zone their areas, they are making the public to disobey good intentions that are intended to control pollution,”

Wangwe said.
An attempt by a joint team of ministry officials and police to implement Act which was assented to by President Kibaki on July 2007 was halted a fortnight ago after police said

the local authorities had not created Zones.
Kakamega police Chief John Mwinzi stopped the operation saying only traders found selling single cigarette sticks would be arrested and not smokers.
Sixteen people had been arrested for either smoking in public or selling single cigarette sticks by the time the operation was called off.
Speaking on the sideline of the ongoing Local Government Sector Reform Strategy workshop in Kakamega, Wangwe said councils should come up with zones including erection of

visible bill boards indicating public places.
Wangwe asked civic bodies to enter into partnership with the private sector to help in environmental conservation.