As of January 5, next year, private security firms in Kenya that have not met new licensing requirements will be shut down, according to a gazette notice by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i.
The notice, published on September 11, 2019, demands that all 2,500 private security firms in the country register with the Private Security Regulatory Authority by the deadline. Failure to comply will result in the closure of non-compliant firms, putting the jobs of 500,000 security guards at risk.
The Private Security (General) Regulations 2019, which were introduced to regulate the industry, require firms to register, pay a fee to the regulatory authority, and meet other conditions. The regulations also introduce a minimum wage for security officers and prohibit firms from using uniforms similar to those of state officers.
The Protective Security Industry Association (PSIA), a lobby group for the security firms, has expressed concerns about the deadline, stating that it is untenable. PSIA Chairperson Cosmas Mutava said that firms would need at least three years to comply with the regulations.
According to Mutava, firms that are denied licenses are likely to lay off their employees. He stated, "We were given six months to comply and now we have about three months remaining. We must be honest and say that we cannot comply with the regulations within the set deadline," he added.
