- PSRA intends to soon publish a legal notice containing a list of security companies that have failed, declined, or otherwise neglected to submit their legal commitments to pay Private Security Guards
- The government set a minimum wage of Sh30,000 for all guards as per Legal Notice No. PSRA/005/2023.
The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has summoned over 30,000 private security guards to Uhuru Park, Nairobi on Saturday, March 30 for mass registration and issuance of Guard Force Numbers (GFNs).
Also expected at the meeting are bouncers, stewards and close protection officers.
PSRA said the exercise will be presided over by Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo among other officials.
PSRA Director General Fazul Mahamed said this is among others aimed at boosting the morale of the group.
The authority said private security personnel ought to be vetted and registered as stipulated by law, noting that the exercise will also be rolled out to other parts of the country.
“The Authority has organized a mass registration forum for all private security officers, bouncers, stewards and close protection officers, across the country," Mahamed said.
“The purpose of this forum is to officially roll out the Mass Registration of Guard Force Numbers for over 30,000 private security officers following the ongoing mandatory nationwide security vetting, training and licensing of all private security officers."
Sections 21 and 28 of the Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016 require that no person shall engage in the provision of private security services or offer private security services in Kenya unless that person has been security vetted and registered by the Private Security Regulatory Authority in accordance with the Act.
Mahamed said the authority intends to soon publish a legal notice containing a list of security companies that have failed, declined, or otherwise neglected to submit their legal commitments to pay Private Security Guards the government-set minimum wage of Sh30,000 as per Legal Notice No. PSRA/005/2023.
“As of 5th March 2024, a significant number of private security companies have already submitted their legal commitment to pay the Government-set Sh30,000 minimum wage for private security officers (security guards),” he said.
He said they have noted with concern that some security companies are submitting false or doctored pay slips.
Mahamed said the law says a person who submits false information or makes a false declaration commits an offence and shall be liable to both such fine and imprisonment.
“For those companies who have not submitted their legal commitments, you must urgently do so to avoid the consequences of non-compliance, including but not limited to, a statutory review of your registration and licensing status in accordance with Section 32 of the Act.”
These are part of reforms being rolled out in the sector to make it more vibrant and stable.
Mahamed on Thursday inspected Uhuru Park where the event will be hosted.
PSRA through the Ministry of Interior has come up with four draft regulations aimed at addressing the evolving security challenges and ensuring greater accountability.
The regulations, if enacted, will require stringent reporting and compliance standards that will compel private security firms to operate with newfound transparency, offering clients and the public at large greater insight into their practices.
They are, The Private Security (Fidelity Fund Operations) Regulations, 2024; The Private Security (Procedure for the Appointment of Members of the Board) Regulations, 2024, The Private Security (Fidelity Fund Operations) Regulations, 2024 and the Private Security (General) Regulations, 2024.