Government kicks off registration of private guards

Interior and National Administration PS Dr Raymond Omollo at Mamboleo Showground in Kisumu when he launched a mandatory registration drive for private security guards in the country. [Courtesy, Interior]

Internal Security and National Administration PS Raymond Omollo has rolled out a mandatory registration drive for security guards across the country.

The registration which is being undertaken by the Private Sector Regulatory Authority (PSRA), was launched by the PS at Mambo Leo Showground in Kisumu city and targets all the guards who number almost one million.

During the occasion, the PS also opened the PSRA regional office that will serve private security stakeholders in the Lake region and western parts of the country.

"We've come here today to witness yet another huge step forward in our reforms agenda for the private security sector, which remains a critical cog in the larger national security framework," said Dr Omollo, who was accompanied by the PSRA Director-General Fazul Mahamed.

The registration drive comes in the wake of the launch of standardized training for our private security guards a fortnight ago, after which the trained guards would be issued with a security force number.

All these constitute the government's determination to enhance regulations and standards in the private security sector not only for the safety and well-being of citizens but also for the overall stability and resilience of the nation.

"We are making another statement on the accountability front by introducing the mandatory registration of private security guards. This essential step will not only foster a higher level of professionalism within the industry but also provide a structured framework for monitoring and regulating their activities while on duty," the PS said.

He emphasized that the government recognizes private security guards as its partners in the maintenance of law and order. The registration goes a long way in providing a system to better track, evaluate, and elevate the quality of services private security guards offer Kenyans.

The sector was laying great emphasis on training in line with the private security training curriculum, as it was the only guarantee for the meaningful change envisaged for the sector.

It was ideal in imparting the officers with the necessary skills, knowledge, and ethical understanding required to navigate even the most complex situations.

The Government expects private security training institutions to meet international training standards and best practices in order to generate skilled labour not just for the Kenyan market but also for the global market, the PS added.

"The industry currently employs close to one million people and records an annual revenue of Sh100 billion. This highlights how critical a driver the sector is for the economy in terms of job creation and contribution to Kenya's GDP growth," Dr Omollo said.

On the regional PSRA office, the PS said this was the first regional office in the country, and marks a significant step towards enhancing accessibility and efficiency and fostering a closer connection with local communities and its stakeholders at all levels.

This localized approach ensures that the needs and concerns of various regions can be addressed promptly and effectively.