KFCB spells tough measures to inject sanity in PSVs

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The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) has spelt out tough measures meant to bring sanity to the public transport sector.

Addressing the media in Nairobi, KFCB Chief Executive Officer Ezekiel Mutua decried that some public service vehicles are exhibiting pornographic content, loud music and foul language despite complaints from passengers.

"The stories of agony told by passengers in PSVs are very disturbing.  Some matatus have become cinema theatres for offensive content and are destroying the youths, especially students. Some students leave home and roam around in these vehicles the whole day," he said.

Mutua has said that screening of unrated content in PSVs and exposure of children to obscenity goes against the Films and Stage Plays Act Cap 222, the Sexual Offences Act of 2006 and Children’s Act. He added that matatu operators who want to screen or exhibit content must obtain a Film/Video Regulatory licence and the content must be classified by the board.

"We cannot have a section of society that completely disobeys the law daily and gets away with it. The number of road carnage caused by reckless driving is mainly as a result of indiscipline and impunity by the PSVs operators. Passengers cannot converse or pick up a call in most of the matatus. They are held hostage and their rights violated. We can't run a country this way," noted Mutua.

He has called on the Police to fully enforce the regulations to protect the public from bad content consumption.