NAIROBI, KENYA: A number of privately owned security groups are increasingly being pushed out of business due to lack of regulation.
Industry players say widespread unprofessionalism, corruption, underpayment of guards and back biting are hitting negatively on the players.
BM Security is among the groups whose future is now under threat. The group is running under difficult conditions in efforts to sustain its 6,000 workforce.
According to the firm’s Human Resource and Administration Director J.K. Ngetich, they may be forced to retrench up to 2,000 guards next year alone, if things do not change.
“We have already retrenched 400 because of various issues including lack of regulation, conformity and fair competition. The future does not look bright,” said Ngetich.
He observed that BM and its members through the Kenya Security Industry Association are pushing for expedition of the enactment of the Private Security Regulation Bill 2013, that is pending. The Bill proposes a Private Security Regulatory Authority, which will regulate the activities of the firms that provide security consultancy, private investigation, surveillance, guard dog services and training. The Bill requires that all firms in operation be registered, guards be trained properly and they be paid better salaries. It will also give guidelines of how the guards can be vetted and issued with guns.
Ngetich said during an interview at their Nairobi offices that limited regulation of the industry poses great challenge to private security guards and the players.
He revealed there are more than 4,000 security firms in the country and some of them even do not have an office are required by law. “We have reports some guards share uniforms. The one of daytime hands over his uniforms to the one of night shift on a daily basis. This should not happen at all,” he said.
Ngetich said failure to implement the guards’ Bill is impeding reforms that will make the sector professional. He argued the proposed law will ensure better pay for the guards and take care of other issues that affect them. The official accused some top government officials who own private security firms of frustrating implementation of the laws. “We have some players who are connected and do not want regulation at large, like bidding the lowest but offer nothing and do not meet the requirements.”
Other security related Bills that have so far been implemented in the security sector include the National Police Service, National Police Service Commission, Independent Policing Oversight Authority and The National Coroners Service Bill 2010 & 2011, which however is also yet to be passed.