This archive report was first published on 7 December 2019.
Kenya's Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has launched a crackdown on private security firms that fail to comply with tax laws and regulations.
As of January, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the National Intelligence Service (NIS), and the office of the Inspector-General of Police will conduct a comprehensive audit of all private security firms.
The audit aims to identify and penalize non-compliant companies, with the goal of edging them out of the industry by April next year.
Speaking during the launch of the training curriculum for level-one private security guards at the Kenya School of Government in Kabete, Dr Matiang'i emphasized the importance of compliance and warned that new licenses will only be issued to firms that meet the required standards.
"New licences will be issued to all compliant private security firms in April 2020. Anyone who will be found not to have complied will not be in business forthwith," Dr Matiang'i said.
The government intends to enforce the Security Regulations Act (2016), which were annulled by the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation last month.
Dr Matiang'i also ordered the Private Security Regulations Authority (PRSA) to publish service standards for private security guards within the next 30 days.
"We are determined to reform this sector. Nothing will stop us or stand in our way. Investors should be happy because we are opening up opportunities for them in government parastatals and other agencies where the guards will be deployed instead of the police," Dr Matiang'i said.
