The principal role of government-gazetted security service providers is to prevent, control, detect and investigate crime. They are charged with the protection of life and property.
Private security officers are the first basic line of grip and render reciprocal roles to state security officers, including information and intelligence gathering.
The cadre has a potential guard force of more than 500,000 personnel but remains disparaged, with unending negative perception and vilification from the public.
A majority of private security officers are youths, aged between 18 and 35, indicating that the sector is a direct source of livelihood to a sizable population and their dependents.
The signing of the Private Security Regulation Bill into law in 2016 was meant to provide regulations and a framework for cooperation between the private security services industry and the state agencies that deal with security in accordance with the values and principles set out in the 2010 Constitution.
It was also meant to regulate foreign ownership and control of businesses operating as security service providers as well as regulate private security services registered in Kenya but rendering services outside the republic.
The Act anchored the industry under the Ministry of Interior and National Coordination and was meant to govern private security officers, guards, firms, and investigators.
It was also meant to establish the Private Security Regulatory Authority whose mandate was to ensure effective administration, supervision, regulation and control of the industry as well as formulate and enforce standards for the conduct.
We have more than 2,500 registered private security firms and service providers in Kenya but recently PSRA issued compliance certificates to only 298 companies. This move has seen an outcry from service providers, stakeholders and personnel querying the vetting criteria used and foreseeable massive job redundancies.
Whether vetted or not, a majority of private security providers operate below standards and in gross violation of the employment and labour relations provisions. They pay their employees far below the government minimum wage, with no remittances of PAYE, NSSF and NHIF, which are statutory mandatory obligations and the right of an employee.
They subject their employees to unconducive working conditions, whilst minting millions of cash from clients and making profits at the expense of the dedicated workers and evading tax.
Instances of unfair, non-competitive tendering processes and corruption are bedevilling the industry, hitting hard on a few of the private service providers and firms operating fairly above basic labour relations guidelines. Reputable private security firms are contemplating winding up, merging or relocating.
In November 2019, the parliamentary Committee on Delegated Legislation annulled the proposed Private Security (General) Guidelines, 2019 drawn by the Interior ministry and meant to operationalise the Private Security Regulation Act, 2016. Parliament adopted the report recommending the annulment of the guidelines.
The current task force on police and prisons reforms ought to consider or otherwise advise the government to address the growing plight of private security officers.
Policing cannot thrive without involving and working with the people and in particular private security officers and nyumba kumi. We should abandon regime policing and embrace a democratic policing model that engages the community with accountability measures in place.
Private security officers’ terms of service and welfare regarding remuneration, overtime, allowance, training, career progression and empowerment should be scrutinised.
Mental health issues remain a challenge and on the rise within the sector. Reform drivers should professionally and diligently execute their mandate devoid of corruption. They must foster virtues and programmes that bring down social psychological depression trends.
The stakeholders in the sector should focus on exploring avenues of strengthening and enforcing the Private Security Regulation Act, 2016 and associated laws.
There is need to fully operationalise the PSRA and professionalise the industry through establishment of a private security academy that will foster modern training and equipping, ranking and accreditation as well as progressive career growth. There is also need to empower guards through the establishment of a giant sector Sacco.
It is fair and humane for central stakeholders such as Cotu (K), Kenya National Private Security Workers Union and the employer associations such as KSIA, PSIA and MSIA to positively re-engage and hasten reforms in the sector.
This will make the industry more competitive and attractive in the job market locally and overseas, and objectively address sectoral gap challenges. Reforming the private security industry will boost the fight against insecurity, terrorism, violent extremism, radicalisation and banditry.
Founder, Integrated Development Network. [email protected]