Editor's Review

The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to private security firms.

The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to private security firms to ensure they have submitted a duly signed and commissioned legal commitment to pay a minimum wage of Sh30,000 for private security officers.

In a statement on Monday, June 10, PSRA disclosed that many firms had complied, but some firms have yet to submit their legal commitment to the wage standard as set by the government.

The regulatory authority maintained that firms which could not have submitted their legal commitments by June 17 will have their certificate of registration cancelled immediately.

"As of June 10, 2024, many companies have complied and submitted their legal commitment to pay a minimum wage of KES 30,000. However, some firms are yet to submit their legal commitment to the wage standard as set by PSRA.

"The Authority has issued a final notice and further warns that any private security company failing to submit a duly signed and commissioned legal commitment to pay the government set minimum wage of KES30,000 for private security officers (security guards) by the close of business on June 17, 2024, will face immediate cancellation of their Certificate of Registration and subsequent deregistration from the register of licensed private security service providers in Kenya," PSRA Director General Fazul Mohamed stated.

 Fazul Mohamed.

The authority stated that in its mandate to ensure compliance with the minimum wage regulations, it shall proceed without further reference or remainder to exercise its powers under Section 32 of the Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016.

PSRA further noted that it shall be conducting periodic reviews of the compliance status of Private Security Companies with the provisions of the Act, consequently, the register of licensed private security service providers and those whose registration certificates have been canceled shall be regularly updated.

The notice comes weeks after the authority launched a nationwide crackdown on unregistered private security firms and security guards.

According to PSRA, the Guard Force Number is the only proof that a security officer was duly trained and licensed by the regulatory authority.

The authority directed all private security service providers to only employ or hire private security guards who possessed Guard Force Numbers.