This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
On a rugged dirt road in Athi River, Solomon Kimeu's compound stands out with tens of dogs in open kennels barking at visitors. But Solomon assures that they are trained not to attack non-threatening people.
These dogs are different, with prices ranging from Sh1.5 million. They are trained to sniff out stolen money, narcotics, and even explosives.
According to Solomon, he started his security dogs business six years ago as a hobby. Today, his dogs do blue-collar jobs, trained to work in active terror attack sites and deal with attackers.
German Shorthaired Pointers make good counter-terrorism dogs due to their diminutive features and perfect sense of smell, Solomon says.
He breeds and trains the dogs in Athi River but has a cozy office in Nairobi's Upper Hill where he runs the business and provides other security services.
Before deployment, the dogs undergo specialized training on how to detect explosives and incapacitate attackers. Their handlers are also highly trained, Solomon says.
Any dog can make an exemplary counter-terrorism dog with proper training and care, Solomon adds.
His training ground features a variety of breeds, including Boerboels, English Springer Spaniels, and Cocker Spaniels.
A trained security dog can cost between Sh1.5 million and Sh5 million, depending on the breed, roles, and other factors, Solomon says.
His dogs are in high demand, with clients in Mali, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, as well as locally.
The dogs take 18 months to one year to mature and work for about seven to 10 years.
Even with their tough jobs, the dogs need as much attention as companion breeds do, Solomon emphasizes.
He discourages pet lovers from keeping Rottweilers, as they can easily attack, especially children.
Running the dogs business is not cheap, with Solomon flying in experts from around the globe to train the dogs.
