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The national security organs will work closely with the private security officers to enhance collective security capacity.

Nairobi Region police boss Adamson Bungei yesterday said the move to involve the guards and bouncers who have been retrained and vetted will go a long way in ensuring safety and security given their distribution across the country and their position as points of contact.

“Over a million guards are spread across the country and with proper vetting and training they will enhance public safety and security. Our officers must work closely with the local guards given their distribution across the country and their position as points of contact,” Bungei said.

Bungei was speaking in Nairobi during the issuance of Guard Force Numbers (GFN) for bouncers and VIP protection personnel who have already been vetted and undergone training.

The government is in the process of re-engineering and streamlining the sector’s operations to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.

The exercise was led by the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) Director General Fazul Mahammed who said they had put in place a raft of measures to address the various skills and knowledge gaps within this cadre of workers in the private security industry.

The officials visited Kettle House, Oyster Bay and Black Samurai Lounge among other joints where they addressed the guards and issued them with the GFNs.

Last month, the government ordered mandatory nationwide training, vetting and licensing of bouncers and VIP protection personnel in line with the security challenges experienced in the country.

The exercise also targets events security and other security personnel in entertainment, recreational and sporting establishments.

Criminal record check

“Evolving security landscape in the country requires proper criminal record check and training of bouncers and other private security officers. Our intention is to integrate the services of the private security providers into the national security infrastructure,” Mahammed said.

Mahammed added that hotels and entertainment joints can be targeted by criminals and even terrorists and it is imperative that the guards and bouncers are not only vetted but also well trained to play the critical role in ensuring public safety and security.

The guards have also been trained on strategies for preventing and defusing conflict situations, proficiency in venue searches, pat down searches and bag searches; professionalism, customer care and communication skills; dealing with illegal drugs; and emergency planning.

This would involve providing them with the right training so that they can detect, deter and effectively respond to the current and emerging security threats appropriately.

The government has also come up with regulations that will give the guards powers to arrest and search individuals without a warrant of arrest.

 The draft Private Security Regulations (2024) however states that a private security service provider may under no circumstances detain an arrested person in any facility other than a police lock-up facility.

“A private security service provider who effects an arrest shall be under duty to cooperate with a police officer in the investigation of the offence and where necessary, in adducing evidence in a court of law,” the regulations say.

The draft regulations were tabled before the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo shows that a private security provider will have powers to arrest a person who is suspected to have committed an offence and immediately hand over the person to the nearest police station or post.

The guard however will be required to use non-violent means in arresting any suspected offender and may only apply force when nonviolent measures have failed or to prevent an escape.

The private guard is also expected to hand over an arrested person to the police officer in charge of a police station or post; and record and sign a statement explaining the circumstances and reasons for the arrest.