Private security companies ordered to hand over IDs, academic certificates of guards

In a statement on Wednesday, the companies were ordered to hand over national IDs, academic certificates and other personal documents.

Mahamed faulted them for illegally withholding the documents which he says further demeans the rights of Private Security Officers.

"The Authority is committed to ensuring that the rights of private security officers are upheld and that any form of exploitation is eradicated," he said.

"The Authority will ensure this ILLIGALITY is put to a stop."

Mahamed has further warned that appropriate legal action will be taken on those companies that will fail to comply with the directive including revocation of their operating licenses.

The PSRA Director General has previously ordered all employees in the private security sector, including guards, bouncers, consultants, close protection officers, and others, to attend training at institutions licensed to obtain a security ID called Guard Force Number (GFN)

Private Security Companies have read mischief in the directive, arguing that Mahamed has continued to make "serious National Private Security Industry decisions" without engaging stakeholders.

There are between 1.2 million to 2 million employees in this sector and the training costs are between Ksh.10,000 to Ksh.12,000.

A raft of stingiest operational measures were also introduced which saw nine private security companies have their licenses revoked.

The measures attracted a harsh rebuttal from the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) as its Executive Director Jacqueline Mugo noted that the regulations pose potential adverse effects on the sector and its workforce.