Stakeholders in the private security sector have urged the government to fast-track the enactment of the Private Security Regulations 2025 which they say will support the full implementation of the Private Security Regulation Act 2016.
The stakeholders spoke in Nyeri during a public participation forum held to gather views on the draft Private Security (General) Regulations 2025, draft Private Security (Use of Animals in Private Security Services) Regulation 2025, Private Security Fidelity Fund Operations Regulations 2025 and draft Private Security (Procedure for the Appointment of Members of the Board) Regulations 2025.
They termed the long-awaited process as a milestone for sector. John Karanja, a representative from the Protective Security Industry Association of Kenya said that enactment of the regulations will end the 21-year wait by the industry players for the introduction of a regulatory framework.
He told the participants that the regulations will address some of the long-standing gaps in oversight and professional standards which have resulted from the lack of proper laws.
“We started pushing to have a law back in 2004 when the industry had about 400,000 employees. Today, the private security sector employs more than one million people making it one of the biggest employers in this country.
Yet we have continued to operate on trial and error despite passing the Private Security Regulation Act in 2016 due to lack of clear regulations. These regulations will finally allow the sector to be run professionally and in line with global standards,” said Karanja.
The chairman of the Private Security Guards Regulatory Authority, Adiel Nyange, underscored the importance of the regulations in enhancing accountability and streamlining operations in the sector. He said the regulations will provide a clear foundation for decision-making in the fast-growing sector.
Nyange said the regulations will provide clarity on disputes within the sector and they will also promote harmony between the state security agencies and the private security actors.
“The regulations are supposed to be anchored in law so that when someone goes against the law, we can get a reference point to use to hold them to account, and we can actually file a petition. It is important for these regulations to be put in place so that everyone can be able to follow up on any issues regarding the sector,” said Nyange.
The regulations mandate Private Security Guards Regulatory Authority to register and license all private security firms, guards, and private investigators. The regulations outline the requirements for licensing and the registration of all private security service providers.
According to the regulations, all security guards must also undergo accredited training, while employers are required to conduct thorough vetting and background checks before hiring them in their firms.
The regulations further enforce strict adherence to professional code of conduct, prohibit the use of uniforms or branding resembling that of national disciplined forces, and bar private security personnel from carrying firearms.
Representing the Central Region Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha, Kirinyaga County Commissioner Hussein Allasow said the regulations will go a long way in establishing a comprehensive framework for the supervision and control of private security services in Kenya.
“The Private Security Regulation Act, 2016 established a comprehensive framework for regulating, supervising and controlling private security services. It created the mechanism to oversee the sector and ensure its operations align with constitutional principles,” said Allasow.
By Wangari Mwangi
