Private security guards may soon be issued with guns once formulation of regulations guiding the process is finalised.
This is according to Interior CS Fred Matiang'i who announced the plan this week, almost a month after the National Security Advisory Committee approved the proposal to arm guards.
The move is said to be part of a plan to fight crime and complement police officers.
Initially, the CS had proposed the new initiative to officially start in July, asking security firms to take up the job of securing Cash In Transit.
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“The government will issue gun licences to vetted companies, who will, in turn, arm their personnel to conduct their businesses.
“We are in the process of creating a centralised data of all guards in the country so that their activities and tasks are well coordinated.
"We also want them to have similar uniform and a specified identification document,” he remarked.
He added: "Be ready to arm your guards because we will withdraw officers from some of these businesses like CIT. You will be in charge of the guns issued to you and any case of misuse will be punished."
Equally, Kenyans will soon start seeing armed private security officers guarding banks, shops, supermarkets and other private premises like their Ugandan counterparts.
This means that private security firms will have to take their staff through rigorous training on the use of guns, which will be a new requirement for them.
At the moment, the Administration Police Service is tasked with this responsibility.
He further warned that firms which will go against the rules and regulations will have their licences revoked.
Dr Matiang’i directed the Private Security Regulatory Authority to start work immediately and also ensure the welfare of the guards is looked into.
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