The Chief Executive Officer of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA), Fazul Mahamed, has announced a nationwide crackdown to flush out unqualified security guards.
In a statement, PSRA announced on Thursday, May 30th, that they were conducting an operation to identify employers who were hiring unqualified security guards.
“We are currently conducting rigorous nationwide compliance and enforcement efforts, including on-site visits, client engagement, and field operations. All users and potential users of private security services must ensure that security companies only employ private security officers who are compliant with the statutory obligations of training, registration, and possess Guard Force Numbers,” stated Mr. Mahamed.
Mahamed observed that a Guard Force Number (GFN) serves as the official certification that a private security guard has received proper training and has been licensed and registered by the appropriate authority.
Anyone found guilty of employing an unregistered security guard is considered to be committing a crime and is subject to conviction under the Private Security Regulations Act, with a penalty of a Sh500,000 fine upon conviction.
Furthermore, utilising the services of an unregistered private security company is illegal and constitutes an offense punishable by either a fine of Sh2 million or imprisonment, as determined by the court.
Private security companies that fail to comply with this guideline may face deregistration, license cancellation, and fines as outlined in the act.
Mr. Mahamed instructed all security guards to have a GFN and meet all other necessary requirements before beginning their service as private security guards, emphasizing that this requirement was outlined in a legal notice dated November 2, 2023.
“The notice remains valid, in force, and strictly mandates all private security service providers to only employ or engage private security officers who have undergone training, passed security vetting, are registered, and possess a GFN issued by the authority,” Mr. Mahamed clarified.
The notice serves as part of the updated regulations and measures that PSRA has recently implemented aimed at safeguarding the well-being of private security guards countrywide.
PSRA conducted a large-scale open-air registration of security guards at Uhuru Park in Nairobi in March, which included the issuance of Guard Force Numbers (GFNs).
Although the exercise was not considered final, the PSRA assured that they would soon implement a nationwide registration process for all individuals working in the sector across the country.
By Hellen Lunalo
