Before former Transport minister the late John Michuki intervened and slammed brakes on some bad habits in the industry, commuters, especially in the city and other urban areas, were being packed like sardines in these contraptions in which they were also overcharged, insulted and even physically assaulted.

But things changed slightly after the Michuki rules were introduced in 2004. Among others, the vehicles were directed to carry only seated passengers, who were required to fasten their seat-belts. These rules brought a modicum of order in the chaotic industry.

Unfortunately, matatus are still light years away from the level of civility Michuki envisaged.

The government is largely to blame for the repugnant culture that pervades the industry. For it is the government that fails to put its foot down to ensure matatu owners and their crew play by the rules.

For instance, despite noise pollution being banned, passengers in the city and other parts of the country continue to ride in matatus that play deafening music. This is despite former Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu warning in 2016 that loud music in matatus was partly to blame for rising cases of hearing loss.

But there is an even bigger problem. Some matatus now routinely show raunchy music videos and even pornographic content. Feeding passengers—a captive audience that includes children and the elderly—on pornography is most obnoxious. It is something you cannot expect even in the most barbaric of societies. But it is happening in Kenya.

Sadly, government agencies, the police included, don’t seem to be much bothered.

The battle against loud music—which was once robustly fought by police and National Environment Management Authority officials—and pornography in PSVs now seems to have been taken over by Kenya Film and Classification Board boss Ezekiel Mutua.

This a battle he must win. Dr Mutua has our full support. We must not let this kind of depravity to take root.

As matatus have proven they cannot keep their music within the acceptable range or even play music of good taste befitting their diverse clientele, the government should, as a matter of urgency, consider stripping the vehicles of their high-decibel stereo systems.

Tougher action should be taken against those found showing sexually explicit videos. The government has a duty to save us from this madness.