- Mohamed has also warned the companies against failure to comply with the directive.
- Employees who may have fallen victims have been asked to immediately report to the Authority.
Image: COURTESY
All private security companies have now been instructed to release all IDs, academic certificates and other essential personal documents belonging to security guards within the next 48 hours.
The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA), in a notice, has also cautioned the respective security companies against any further unlawful retention of any vital documents.
“This violates the law, terms and conditions attached to the certificate of registration and the code of conduct for private security service providers,” the notice signed by Fazul Mohamed reads.
This measure, PSRA said, follows a myriad of complaints from the guards who allege that their employers are unlawfully detaining their documents.
“Section 32 and 55 of the Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016 mandates the Authority to take action, including but not limited to cancellation of licence, of a private security service provider on the grounds of misconduct, unprofessionalism, breach of the Act or the code of conduct,” it states.
Mohamed further warned the companies against failure to comply with the directive.
“TAKE NOTICE: any private security company that refuses, declines, and or willfully fails to comply with this directive, commits and offence and shall in addition to cancellation of license, be liable to the penalty prescribed under the Act or any other written law whichever is higher,” he said.
Employees who may have fallen victims have been asked to immediately report to the Authority through our email: [email protected], and or WhatsApp no: +254 799 429 001.
The notice has been copied to all directors and shareholders of private security companies, the CEOs, Human resource managers and the security guards.
The latest action by the regulator underscores its commitment to upholding regulatory standards and safeguarding the rights of security guards within the private security industry.
It signals a proactive approach towards addressing grievances facing the workers as well as ensuring compliance with established regulations.
It comes a few days after the launch of a mass registration exercise for all private security guards and bouncers.
They are set to be issued with Guard Force Numbers (GFNs).
The authority recently set the minimum wage for the guards at Sh30,000.
Mohamed put on notice companies that have failed, declined, or otherwise neglected to submit their legal commitments to pay guards the government-set minimum wage that they risk deregistration.
“If you pay a security guard Sh7,000 how are they supposed to afford rent in Nairobi? How much are they supposed to pay for school fees ? How much are they supposed to pay for food? How much are they supposed to pay for transport ?” he said in a past event.
In the coming days, he stated, they will introduce in parliament an amendment to Section 53 of the Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016 which will authorise the issuance of firearms to security guards.