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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 a 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.

Security companies

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 to save the sector from collapsing in the wake of the tough economic challenges facing various parts of the country,” argued Kimaru.

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