This archive report was first published on 4 December 2019.
On Thursday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i launched a new training guide for over 700,000 private security officers at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete, Nairobi.
The launch, which was attended by CEOs of State corporations, heads of private security service providers, and the chairman of National Police Service Commission Eliud Kinuthia, marked a significant step towards implementing the Private Security Regulations Act of 2016.
The act requires every private security provider to undergo annual mandatory training accredited by the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA).
A team comprising PSRA, National Police Service, National Intelligence Service, Kenya Defence Forces, and security experts drafted the syllabus, which covers essential skills such as counter-terrorism, security equipment and animals, foot drills, and basic security procedures.
The guide also includes etiquette, conflict management, personal presentation, and customer relations, in line with government efforts to professionalize the private security industry.
As noted in the Building Bridges Initiative report, terrorism is a real risk to Kenyans that needs multiple tools to address it. One tool is ensuring private security firms and guards deliver better services that are more integrated with the State security and adhere to higher standards.
“Defend Kenya against terrorists by implementing regulated protective security standards for all sectors and particularly highly trafficked properties owned by the private sector,” the report says.
