The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) has launched a crackdown on Public Service Vehicles (PSV) playing pornographic content.
According to a press statement signed by KFCB boss Ezekiel Mutua, the crackdown follows complaints from members of the public who have reported numerous cases of obscene content exhibited in PSVs.
The crackdown comes days after a 14-seater PSV plying Mtwapa Ferry route was impounded for allegedly screening pornographic videos especially when school girls board the vehicles.
Mutua said some of the PSVs have become a complete nuisance as they screen such obscene content and play loud music in total violation of the rights of their passengers.
Speaking on Thursday as he launched the crackdown, the KFCB boss said “turning the vehicles into cinema theatres or video shows and airing pornographic content is punishable by law.”
“Penalties for playing unlicensed exhibition of content in public service vehicles is Sh200,000 or five years imprisonment. We are mounting a crackdown on all public service vehicles screening such content against the law. PSVs are not broadcasters. We are committed to bring this madness to an end.”
PSV operators who wish to continue to screening videos in their vehicles will have to obtain a license from KFCB at a cost of Sh2000 annually.
He said the board shall then provide classification guidelines to the applicants.
“It is disturbing and totally unacceptable for PSVs to display pornographic content in their vehicles in utter contravention of the law. Indeed it is the requirement of the law that any content that is displayed or exhibited to the public is submitted to the board for examination and classification,” said Dr Mutua.
“Our efforts are geared towards preserving our culture and morality by ensuring that the content exhibited to the public is rated for age suitability and appropriateness. The screening of such content in PSV and the blatant exposure to children to such obscene content goes against the stipulations of the films and stage plays Act Cap 222 of the Laws of Kenya, the Sexual Offence act of 2006 and the Children’s Act,” he added.
