The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has revoked the security licenses of nine Kenyan security firms for violating government directives. This was formalized through gazettement, with the names of the affected companies being published.
As a result, thousands of security guards are at risk of losing their jobs due to the license revocations. The revocations are a result of these firms failing to comply with the government’s directive to raise the minimum wage for security guards to Sh. 30,000.
These firms pursued legal action, arguing that increasing the minimum wage would inflate security company expenses beyond what their customers could afford. They contended that this would lead to a loss of revenue for them.
However, PSRA remained committed to ensuring that the over 1.3 million citizens employed as security guards are remunerated well.
It issued a one-week ultimatum to security companies, instructing them to increase guard salaries to at least Sh. 30,000 gross for those in Nairobi and Sh. 27,000 for guards in the metropolitan area.
Some security firms would be required to allocate Sh. 45,000 for day guards and Sh. 55,000 for night guards to cover overtime expenses.
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“We are determined to ensure professionalism, fair remuneration for the 1.3 million private security officers and the ultimate growth of the private security industry in the country,” said PSRA in a statement.
The companies that have lost their operating licenses are Victory Protective Services Africa Limited, Victory Consultants Limited, Bedrock Security Services Limited, Bedrock Security Alarms Systems and Product Limited, Senaca East Africa Limited, Hipora Security Solutions Limited, Salama Fikira International Limited, Marco Security Limited and Superb Marketing Solutions Limited.
