The government has directed all private security firms to ensure that security guards are paid the minimum wage of Ksh30,000 (for those in Nairobi) and Ksh27,183 for the rest of the country.
In a letter dated Monday, January 29, Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) Chief Executive Fazul Mahamed directed the chief executives of the security firms to sign a legal commitment to pay the security guards the minimum wage.
The authority further attached the legal commitment to the letter outlining all the requirements.
Failure to present the duly signed commitment letter will subject the companies to a review of their registration and licensing status, potentially leading to revocation.
"All private security companies must sign and submit to info@psra.go.ke a copy of the hereto attached legal commitment to pay government-set minimum wage for private security officers," read the letter in part.
"Take notice: Any private security company that fails to submit a duly signed and commissioned copy of the legal commitment within the next seven days from the date of this directive shall be subjected to a statutory review of its registration and licensing status."
The letter was sent to all directors, shareholders, chief executive officers, managers and security providers of all private security companies operating across the country.
The attached legal commitment demanded that the salary be disbursed on a monthly basis while keeping accurate records of all payments.
"This commitment is made with the understanding that non-compliance with government set minimum wage requirement may result in legal consequences, including fines, penalties, and potential cancellation of our license to operate as a corporate private security service provider," added the legal commitment.
In December last year, a lobby group had championed increased monthly salaries for security guards arguing that they are tasked with protecting billions.
The Professional Association of Licensed Private Security Services Providers of Kenya (PALSAK) argued that a majority of the guards are only paid Ksh15,000.
The body, however, partly blamed the industry players for not coming together to insist that security services are expensive.
PALSAK also argued that the salaries had remained unchanged for 25 years yet the cost of living has continued to worsen.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki launched the nationwide registration of security guards in August 2023.
