This archive report was first published on 27 September 2019.
On July 5, 2019, the Interior Cabinet secretary gazetted The Private Security (General) Regulations, 2019, operationalizing the Private Security Regulation Act 2016 and the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA). This move requires private security providers to register with the regulator by January 1, 2020, or face closure.
The private security industry in Kenya is complex, catering to diverse consumers, including kiosks, supermarkets, factories, private homes, and government institutions. Different categories of individuals, from ordinary citizens to top civil servants and VVIPs, also consume these services.
Provision of security to citizens and their property is a constitutional right, and the government's duty is to provide it free of charge. However, the government has failed in this task, making private security services necessary.
Estimates suggest that there are 2,000-3,000 private security service providers in Kenya, employing 500,000 to 600,000 workers countrywide, excluding informal operators. The PSRA must now inspect, vet, register, and license all providers within the given deadline.
Several questions arise: Can the PSRA handle the registration process within the timeframe? Can all service providers meet the requirements and pay the exorbitant fees? Who will train the huge workforce, and who will foot the cost?
Private security services are expensive, with most of the cost going to employee remuneration. The Act aims to dictate salaries, but this may lead to higher costs for clients. University graduates may also question the logic of acquiring a degree when they can earn the same amount with a high school certificate.
Lastly, since the government pays lower salaries than the private sector, most public entities may go without security services. The government can only lock out rogue operators through thorough vetting and proper documentation.
— Benjamin Kitua, a Nairobi security firm owner, consultant, and retired military officer
