The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has launched a nationwide crackdown on unregistered security guards and companies.
PSRA in a statement on Wednesday, May 29, PSRA announced the crackdown, noting that it is currently undertaking countrywide operations to weed out unqualified guards.
The authority further disclosed that it was conducting the operation to know employers who are hiring unqualified security guards.
“Our compliance and enforcement department is currently undertaking robust countrywide; assignment to assignment, door to door, client to client enforcement visits and field compliance operations.”
“To ensure that all users and prospective users of private security services only engage security companies whose private security officers meet the statutory requirements of training, registration and are in possession of Guard Force Numbers,’ read part of the statement.
According to PSRA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Fazul Mahamed, a Guard Force Number (GFN) is the only proof that a private security officer is duly trained, registered and licensed by the Authority as per the Private Security Regulation Act.
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Further, Mahamed warned that anyone found guilty of committing the crime of operating without a GFN is liable to conviction as per the Act.
PSRA on Registration of Guards
In the statement, the CEO informed all security guards to ensure they have a GFN, urging to meet other set requirements before officially serving as a private security guard.
Additionally, PSRA noted that a firm that uses the services of an unregistered private security company also commits an offence.
The Authority warned that such firms risk paying a Ksh2 million fine, or imprisonment as specified by the court.
At the same time Fazul highlighted that all private security companies that violate this guideline risk having their operating license cancelled or being deregistered in accordance with the Act on top of the stated fines.
The PSRA CEO highlighted that the legal notice which outlined the regulations was issued on November 2, 2023.
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“The Legal Notice No. PSRA/005/2023 dated 2nd November 2023 is still valid, in force and strictly requires all private security service providers to only employ, hire or otherwise engage private security officers who have undergone training, security vetting, are registered and in possession of GFN issued by the authority,” he remarked.
The crackdown followed different guidelines that the PSRA introduced to protect private security guards.
In March 2024, PSRA gave the way forward on the recruitment of guards declaring that it would be undertaking the mass registration of security guards.
The exercise which took place at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on March 30, 2024, started with the registration of 30,000 security guards in Nairobi.
Further, the Authority said that the training, registration and licensing of private security officers is not only a mandatory statutory requirement but also a potent tool in addressing the key professional development areas within the private security industry.
Earlier in 2023, PSRA had also proposed paying the guards Ksh30,000 monthly.
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