Nyeri: Stakeholders in the private security sector have urged the government to fast-track the enactment of the Private Security Regulations 2025, which they assert will support the full implementation of the Private Security Regulation Act 2016.
According to Kenya News Agency, stakeholders gathered in Nyeri for a public participation forum aimed at collecting views on several draft regulations. These include the Private Security (General) Regulations 2025, Private Security (Use of Animals in Private Security Services) Regulation 2025, Private Security Fidelity Fund Operations Regulations 2025, and Private Security (Procedure for the Appointment of Members of the Board) Regulations 2025.
John Karanja, a representative from the Protective Security Industry Association of Kenya, highlighted the significance of the regulations, noting their potential to fill longstanding gaps in oversight and professional standards. He emphasized that the industry had been advocating for a regulatory framework since 2004, during which the sector employed around 400,000 individuals. Today, the sector employs over a million people, making it one of the country’s largest employers. The lack of clear regulations, despite the passage of the Private Security Regulation Act in 2016, has led to operations based on trial and error.
Adiel Nyange, chairman of the Private Security Guards Regulatory Authority, stressed the importance of the regulations in enhancing accountability and streamlining operations within the sector. He stated that the regulations would provide a solid foundation for decision-making in the rapidly growing industry and offer clarity on disputes, fostering harmony between state security agencies and private security actors.
The regulations empower the Private Security Guards Regulatory Authority to register and license all private security firms, guards, and private investigators. They also specify licensing and registration requirements for all private security service providers. Additionally, the regulations mandate accredited training for all security guards and require employers to perform thorough vetting and background checks.
Furthermore, the regulations enforce adherence to a professional code of conduct, prohibit the use of uniforms resembling those of national disciplined forces, and restrict private security personnel from carrying firearms.
Representing the Central Region Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha, Kirinyaga County Commissioner Hussein Allasow remarked that the regulations would establish a comprehensive framework for the supervision and control of private security services in Kenya. He noted that the Private Security Regulation Act, 2016, had already set a framework for regulating, supervising, and controlling private security services, ensuring that operations align with constitutional principles.
