Watchmen will soon have powers to arrest suspected criminals should the proposed Private Security Regulations sail through.
The new proposals were revealed during a meeting between officials from the Ministry of Interior and the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security on Tuesday.
According to the new regulations, it was proposed that security guards manning gates be empowered to detain individuals suspected of engaging in criminal acts.
However, they will required to immediately surrender the arrested individual to the nearest police station, similar to county council askaris (kanjos).
On the other hand, it was proposed that the watchmen have the power to conduct searches when an individual enters and leaves a building.
While the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) argued that the regulations were important owing to the dangers that come with their work, MPs expressed reservations over the same.
"They noted that though the provisions were alive to the current security and safety threats in the county, it is important to put the necessary safeguards to curb misuse of the powers.
"Owing to the need for closer scrutiny of some of the provisions contained in these regulations, the Committee requested a lengthy engagement with the State Department at a later date, before allowing for the publication of the regulations for consideration by the House," read the report by Parliament in part.
MPs also proposed to have watchmen compensated for losses incurred while on duty.
PSRA has in the last few years proposed various changes to professionalise the private security sector. Some of the changes introduced include the mandatory registration of private guards.
The authority is also issuing the guards with Guard Force Numbers (GFN) which will be used to identify the security personnel.
On the other hand, the government is also pushing to have the guards earn a minimum wage of Ksh30,000. Private security companies were given a 7-day ultimatum to commit to effecting the salary directive.
