Security Guards Change Tact After Thousands Fired Abruptly

The Protective Security Industry Association (PSIA) on Friday, January 13, took its battle against the Private Security Regulatory Authority to court seeking to reverse the deregistration of 1,800 companies.

PSIA, through its lawyers, moved to court to challenge the decision and the criteria used while delisting the companies. 

Whilst insisting that the process of regulation ought to have been fair to all players in the industry, the association demanded an explanation of how the 180 licensed companies made the cut. 

Security guards march during Labour Day celebrations at 64 Stadium in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County on May 1, 2016.

Daily Nation

"We are calling on the authority to do the right thing by ensuring that the procedure and process are fair to everyone operating in our country," Cosmas Mutama, the association's chair noted. 

"We also want to know how the 180 companies got to be listed when the regulations on the act are not complied with," the lawyer stated. 

Further, the security guards association complained that the regulator demanded high fees as a requirement for the licensing. 

According to a member of the association, the regulator demanded multiple fees for each area in the private security business which amounted to millions per year.

"The fees that were contemplated in this process were high. If you are undertaking three areas as many do, the guards, dogs and the alarm systems, each of those areas had a separate fee to be paid which was unrealistic," he lamented. 

In addition, the association accused the Fazul Mahamed-led authority of contempt of court - arguing that the court was yet to rule on a  case filed by the association. 

In an earlier statement, the association's chairperson had allayed fears that thousands of security guards working in the sector risked losing their jobs if the decision is sustained. 

He also criticised the move to deregister the companies without giving an explanation. 

"This is misplaced because these are security firms that have been operating for more than 40 years. They have not been given reasons why they should not be operating in the country," Mutava stated. 

Private security guards marching during Labour Day celebrations at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground in Kisumu County on May 1, 2018.

Daily Nation