The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) has launched a nationwide inspection exercise targeting matatus and other Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) displaying inappropriate audiovisual content on onboard entertainment screens.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 10, the Board said the operation was being conducted in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including the National Police Service (NPS).
KFCB said the crackdown was aimed at preventing children from accessing harmful or unsuitable material while travelling in public transport vehicles.
The Board noted that the number of children using public transport was expected to increase during the long school holidays and the upcoming December festive season, with some travelling alone while others would be accompanied by their families.
It consequently cautioned matatu operators against displaying audiovisual material that could expose minors to inappropriate content.
KFCB also appealed to members of the public to report incidents involving the exposure of children to unsuitable content in public transport vehicles and other public or private spaces.
Members of the public can submit complaints through the Board’s official email address, info@kfcb.go.ke, or its social media platforms for further action.
The regulator emphasised that protecting children from harmful audiovisual material, both online and offline, requires the collective involvement of parents, transport operators, passengers and relevant government agencies.
The crackdown comes days after the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) announced a separate nationwide road safety operation targeting motorists who violate traffic regulations.
In a notice issued on October 27, NTSA said the campaign, dubbed Msimu Bila Ajali, Usalama Barabarani, would combine public awareness initiatives with day and night inspections along major transport routes.
The authority said the operation was intended to identify dangerous driving practices and address violations contributing to road accidents.
NTSA explained that additional attention would be directed towards night-time inspections because evening and late-night journeys are considered particularly dangerous for motorists and other road users.
Among the violations being targeted are speeding, failure to comply with speed limiter regulations, operating vehicles with missing or invalid transport documents, overloading, driving without valid documentation, failure to wear seatbelts and driving under the influence of alcohol.
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The authority also identified speeding as a major area of focus, with officers using real-time monitoring systems to identify motorists exceeding prescribed speed limits.
NTSA further cautioned motorists that official speed violation notifications are sent exclusively through SMS messages bearing the sender identification name NTSA.
Drivers were advised to ignore suspicious messages from individuals claiming to represent the authority and report any suspected fraudulent communication.
The operation will also involve inspecting speed limiters fitted in vehicles to establish whether they are functioning correctly and continuously transmitting data to the Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS).
