Bouncers will be required to wear government-issued work numbers while on duty in clubs in new reforms being done by the Private Security Regulatory Authority(PSRA).
While addressing stakeholders on Wednesday, PSRA CEO Fazul Mahamed explained that the new directive aimed to professionalise and regulate the industry.
As per the guidelines, the numbers will be issued to all bouncers who are required to go through mandatory training within the next three weeks.
"Upon successful completion of the training, the Authority will issue Guard Force Numbers (GFN) to registered and licensed bouncers. It is mandatory for all bouncers to visibly wear the Guard Force Numbers bearing their names and license numbers while on duty.
"The Guard Force Number (GFN) - is the Government seal of approval. It dignifies you as a professional and it is your badge of honor," he stated.
On the other hand, it was noted that there will be a difference in the conduct of the bouncers owing to the various security courses they will be trained in.
Among the courses to be undertaken by the security personnel include strategies for defusing conflict, customer care and communication searches.
It is expected that there will also be enhanced security at club entrances given that the bouncers will be taught proficiency in venue searches, pat down searches and bag searches.
The mandatory training will also include better emergency handling and dealing with illegal drugs.
In a stern warning to bouncers and clubs, Mahamed maintained that the government would enforce fines on individuals found to be working without licences.
"Additionally, a person who hires, employs or otherwise engages the services of any unlicensed bouncer commits an offence and shall be liable to such fine and imprisonment in the case of a natural person and Ksh2,000,000 in the case of a corporate.
"The 21 arrested bouncers who were arrested in connection to the Kettle House Bar incident shall in addition to the charges already preferred against them be charged and prosecuted for the offence of operating as a bouncer without a licence under section 69 of the Private Security Regulation Act," he stated.
