The Private Security Regulatory Authority says some private security firms are yet to comply with a directive to pay their staff a minimum wage of Sh30,000.
Those who have not complied with the directive have until June 17 to do so, the authority said Monday, June 10.
The authority said a significant number of private security companies have formally submitted legally binding commitments to pay a government-set minimum wage of Sh30,000 for private security officers (security guards) in accordance with the legal instruments it published.
However, the CEO Fazul Mahamed said, despite numerous reminders, some private security companies have failed, declined and/or refused to submit their duly signed and commissioned legal commitments.
“To ensure compliance with minimum wage regulations, the Authority shall proceed, without further reference or reminder, to exercise its powers under Section 32 of the Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016.”
“Consequently, any private security company that fails to submit a duly signed and commissioned Legal Commitment to pay the government set minimum wage of Sh30,000 for Private Security Officers (Security Guards) by the close of business on 17th June 2024 will face immediate cancellation of their Certificate of Registration and subsequent deregistration from the register of licensed private security service providers.”
He said the Authority shall be conducting periodic reviews of the compliance status of private security companies with the provisions of the Act.
PSRA set the basic minimum monthly wages for all private security guards operating in Kenya.
The minimum pay will be Sh18,994 with a house allowance of Sh2,849.11 and overtime allowance of Sh8,156.81, totalling Sh30,000 per month.
The statutory deductions will be National Social Security Fund (Sh1080), Social Health Insurance Fund (Sh825), Pay As You Earn (Sh1229.75) and affordable house levy (Sh450).
Mahamed has directed employers to comply with the directives warning that any employer who remunerates guards below the mandated basic minimum shall be liable to a fine of Sh2 million, according to the law.
The PSRA has also commenced nationwide registration, licensing, and issuance of Guard Force Numbers (GFN) to private security officers.
Those to be issued with the numbers include private security guards, corporate security officers, and all persons providing private security services, either employed or otherwise engaged by government institutions or agencies.
It is now a mandatory requirement for all guards to undergo training in security matters in an institution accredited by the Authority as a prerequisite requirement for registration and licensing in accordance with Section 23 (2) (d) of the Act.
"The guards who will be undergoing Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) accredited training will be issued with Security Force Numbers," he said.
Any person -including government institutions, security companies, corporate entities, organizations, and associations –who hires employs or otherwise engages the services of any private security service provider and pays or remunerates them below the mandated basic minimum shall be liable to a fine of Sh2 million, according to the Private Security Regulatory Act.
The PSRA is established to regulate the Private Security Industry in accordance with the Act and the values and principles set out in the Constitution.
Section 69 of the Private Security Regulation Act states that a person who operates as a private security service provider without being the holder of a valid training certificate from an institution accredited by the Authority or without being registered by the Authority commits an offence and is liable to a fine of Sh2 million.
Mahamed said the Guard Force Number was the only proof that a Private Security Officer has been duly registered and licensed by the Authority in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
The government is in the process of fully integrating the private security industry into the national security infrastructure.
This will enhance intelligence gathering, information sharing, crime detection and deterrence, crime scene protection and the collection and preservation of evidence.
Once formalised, private security providers will have a direct line of communication with the government's command and control centre to minimize bureaucratic red tape and speed up response in emergencies.
The broad and deep penetration of PSOs into society, coupled with their daily interaction with fellow citizens across all social strata, strategically places the officers at the centre of raw intelligence, giving them unfettered access to a treasure trove of information vital to the planning and other security measures, according to experts.
