Mombasa matatus exposing children to porn

Kenya Film and Classification Board (KFCB) Coast regional boss Bonventure Mutua during the interview with the Nation in Mombasa on August 15, 2016. He said Public Service Vehicles within Mombasa and Kilifi counties are exposing children to adult films and video. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Most of the matatu’s are pimped with graffiti, tinted windows and fitted with Wi-Fi, making them a favourite for most teenagers — majority being school children.
  • Nation.co.ke has established that majority of the matatu’s are owned by prominent people including politicians. The drivers and conductors of these matatus operate with impunity as they break traffic laws.

Public Service Vehicles (PSV) operating within Mombasa and Kilifi counties are exposing children to adult content, by playing unregulated music videos.

The notorious PSV vehicles are matatus operating along Tudor, Mtwapa and Bamburi routes.

Most of the matatu’s are pimped with graffiti, tinted windows and fitted with Wi-Fi, making them a favourite for most teenagers — majority being school children.

Nation.co.ke has established that majority of the matatu’s are owned by prominent people including politicians. The drivers and conductors of these matatus operate with impunity as they break traffic laws.

“Even when they are nabbed, it is just a matter of a phone call and they are back on the road. What worries us, as parents is the dirt shown in the PSVs. Let the government crackdown on such matatus,” said Jemimah Mwombori a resident in Tudor.

Another parent of a 15-year-old boy, Michael Gitonga, said he was forced to alight from a matatu which was showing adult films recently.

“I was with my son in a matatu in Mtwapa traveling to the CBD and when we reached Bamburi they started showing dirty videos. I was very ashamed and the teenagers in the matatu were celebrating and asking for more,” he said.

Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) has since said it will crackdown on PSV vehicles displaying adult content in the two counties.

According to KFCB, about 15 matatus in Mombasa and Kilifi counties have been reported to be displaying the content to minors.

KFCB regional boss Bonventure Mutua said they have received four cases of matatus operating in Tudor, three in Bamburi and eight from Mtwapa.

He said that board had also received complaints from parents and that the board had since warned the matatus against the practice.

According to Mr Mutua, the matatu operators display and play the pornographic videos even during the day without fear.

“But they switch off whenever they approach police checkpoints. Owners, operators and the Saccos they belong to will be held responsible for allowing the videos to be played in their vehicles,” he warned.

REGISTER AS EXHIBITORS

Mr Mutua said they might use undercover detectives to nab the vehicles and take action against them.

He said all matatus playing films and music videos should be registered as film and video exhibitors by KFCB to enable traffic police officers to crackdown on those who break rules.

Mr Mutua insisted that if any operator has to play music or any audio visual, they must register with KFCB and ensure that the content falls within set regulations and laws on content classification.

He said the registered matatus should ensure the content is classified under Parental Guidance (PG) and General Exhibition (GE) categories.

The official warned that the board will launch a crackdown besides taking stern measures that will include destruction of gadgets, take owners to court and impose penalties of up to Sh50, 000.

“We request members of the public to give us details and report the matatus to us and we will follow up the matter,” he said.