Private Security Companies to Know Their Fate on Tuesday

Private Security companies will know on Tuesday next week whether they will be compelled to implement a legal notice setting the minimum wage for their security guards as directed by the government.

Justice Reuben Nyakundi of Eldoret High Court is set to make a ruling on whether the security firms should comply with the requirement or continue to pay their security guards at the current rates under the legal notice PSRA/005/2023 pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

This follows an application filed in court by the private security companies under certificate of urgency seeking conservatory orders to put on hold the implementation of the legal notice as directed by the Private Security Regulatory Authority Director General Fazul Mohamed.

Justice Nyakundi said that he would not want to cause injustice in the whole process as he implored upon parties involved in the matter to avail themselves before his court where he set rules on whether the security firms should continue paying their security guards as per the revised rates or not.

Respondents in the suit matter include the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, Attorney General and Private Security Regulatory Authority Director General.

“Let us meet on Tuesday next week from 10.am for a status conference on the matter and I will need all the parties involved to avail themselves,” directed Justice Nyakundi.

Through their lawyer Kevin Kimaru, the security companies had impressed upon the court to put on hold the implementation of the directive from the government owing to hard economic challenges the private security industry is facing across the country.

The lawyer argued that in the event the government directive is implemented, the private security industry will be thrown into a major crisis in the country.

“Your lordship, we pray that you issue orders for the status quo to remain so as to save the sector from collapsing in the wake of the tough economic challenges facing various parts of the country,” argued lawyer Kimaru.

The companies expressed fear that they could be the next in line to be de-registered by the Fazul Mahamed-led Private Security Regulatory Authority.

Their fear and concern comes in the wake of Mohamed’s move to de-register nine security companies with immediate effect last week.

The targeted companies certificates of registration and licenses were also cancelled.

This was after the affected security companies failed to comply with the minimum regulations as ordered in a seven-day ultimatum asking them to pay security guards sh 30,000.

According to Mohamed, he took the action after the affected companies violated the law.

The affected companies are Victory protective services Africa limited, Victory consultants limited, Bedrock security services limited, Bedrock security Alarm system and product limited.

Others are Seace East Africa limited, Hipora security solutions limited, Salam Fikira International ( Kenya) limited, Macro security limited and Superb marketing solution limited.