Over 80 matatus were detained at Bamburi and Central police stations in Mombasa after they were impounded for screening pornographic materials.
More than 80 drivers and their conductors have also been arrested and charged before court after the Kenya Film Classification Board KFCB launched a nationwide crackdown on public service vehicles screening obscene films.
KFCB Chief Executive Officer CEO Ezekiel Mutua expressed concern that public transport vehicles were screening film contents interspersed with pornographic clips.
He said the crackdown follows complaints from the general public who reported numerous cases of obscene content exhibited in public transport service.
“It is disturbing and totally unacceptable for public service vehicles to play pornographic content in utter contravention of the law,” he said.
Addressing journalists in Mombasa in Thursday, Mutua said the board will also be taking aim on those who play their music too loudly.
He said it is the requirement of law that any media content that is displayed to the public is submitted to the board for examination and classification.
Mutua said most public service vehicles have not complied with the requirement and have continued to subject commuters to unrated and obscene content against their wish.
“The screening of obscene content to the public goes against the stipulation of the Films and Stage Plays Act Cap 222,” he insisted.
KFCB Coast regional coordinator Boniventure Kioko, film officials and police have been conducting a crackdown since Monday impounding public service vehicles where drivers and conducting have been facing various charges before courts.
Kioko said that Mtwapa-Mombasa matatus, Bamburi-Likoni route and matatu plying the Tudor-Likoni and Tudor-Docks were the notorious where explicit videos and other unclassified video content were exhibited.
Locals in Mombasa have backed the crackdown saying that such explicit videos were morally eroding the youth and especially school going children.
They have been calling for completely removal of film screens in public service vehicles.