The delay in renewing licences for private security firms has left hundreds of thousands of guards jobless.
The government has only renewed licenses of 183 private security providers out of the nearly 2,000 firms.
Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) CEO Fazul Mohamed made the announcement.
Security companies have criticized the government’s move saying it is not legal.
According to government directives, it is illegal for any private security provider to run a firm without registration and a 5-year operating license.
A notice issued by the government has also illegalized the hiring, employment, and services of unlicensed private security firms.
PSRA has maintained that only the 5-year license would be used as proof that a company is registered.
Some of the affected companies have vowed to go to court and sue PSRA CEO Fazul Mohamed.
The measures were put in place by former Cabinet Secretary for Interior Fred Matiang’i in early 2022.
Matiang’i had said the measures were being taken to streamline private security providers.
Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) is a State Corporation whose mandate is to provide for a framework of regulation of the Private security Services industry.
The body also provides a forum of cooperation between the Private Security Service industry and State Security Agencies.
It was established under section 7 of the Private security Regulation Act No.13 of 2016
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