The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has issued warned security companies that have failed to adhere to the government-set minimum wage for private guards, threatening to publicly name and shame them if they do not comply.
In a notice issued on Tuesday, PSRA CEO Fazul Mahamed highlighted that by March 5, several security companies had not submitted their legal commitment to pay private guards a minimum wage of Sh30,000.
Mahamed emphasized the urgency of compliance, stating that failure to do so could result in statutory reviews of registration and licensing statuses.
“In conclusion, for those companies who have not submitted their legal commitments, you must urgently do so to avoid the consequences of noncompliance,” Mahamed stated, indicating the potential repercussions for failing to meet the mandated minimum wage requirement.
The issue of security guard salary increments has sparked outcry from affected companies, with reports suggesting that some guards earn as little as Sh6,000, far below the government’s stipulated minimum wage.
The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) has condemned the summary cancellation of licenses for nine security companies by PSRA, calling for their immediate reinstatement.
FKE CEO Jacqueline Mugo criticized the lack of adherence to fair administrative processes and constitutional principles in the cancellation process.
“There was no prior written notice, no opportunity for the companies to defend themselves, and no chance to address identified gaps,” Mugo stated, highlighting the adverse impact of the hasty decision on affected companies, their employees, and clients who rely on their services.
FKE urged PSRA to cease threats against security firms’ clients and to streamline the licensing and registration process before taking any enforcement actions.
The federation emphasized the importance of social dialogue in addressing issues within the security sector and advocated for the activation of a wages council to address concerns about payroll costs and fair wages for security guards.
