The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) under the Ministry of Interior through its CEO Fazul Mahamed on Tuesday, April 2, issued an ultimatum to private security firms for withholding crucial documents for their employees illegally.
In a statement, Mahamed gave the companies 48 hours to release these documents including national identity cards, academic certificates and other essential documents.
He added that all companies that fail to adhere to this directive will lose their licenses and also face other penalties outlined in the Private Security Regulation Act of 2016.
"All private security companies are hereby directed to within the next 48 hours to stop unlawful retention and hand over all national IDs, academic certificates and other essential personal documents belonging to private security officers (security guards)," he announced.
Per the Act, the authority can cancel the licenses of the private security service provider on the grounds of misconduct, unprofessionalism, or breach of the Act or the code of conduct.
Also, in the act the company whose license has been revoked risks a fine of over Ksh500,000. Other penalties include suspending the certificate of operation and cautioning the person.
" The Authority may, upon receipt of a complaint against any person, or where it appears to it that any person's conduct requires investigation, summon such person to appear before it or before its committee and to produce such documents in such person's custody or adduce such evidence as may relate to the matter under investigation," reads part of the act.
In the notice, Mahamed further revealed that the authority had received numerous complaints on the matter with many security guards left in limbo.
According to Mahamed, it was illegal to withhold these documents for a prolonged time and this behaviour must stop to avoid inconveniencing the security guards.
He also assured security officers that the authority was committed to upholding their rights from exploitation.
Additionally, the CEO asked all security guards to report any company which is unlawfully withholding their crucial personal documents.
"Any private security officer (security guard) whose National ID, academic certificates and other essential personal documents are being withheld by any private security company should immediately report to the authority through our email or WhatsApp number," he added.
