The CEO of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA), Fazul Mahamed, operating under the Ministry of Interior, has issued a stern ultimatum to private security firms on Tuesday, April 2. The directive pertains to the unlawful withholding of crucial documents belonging to their employees.
Mahamed, in his statement, has granted these companies a 48-hour window to release the withheld documents, which include national identity cards, academic certificates, and other vital paperwork.
Failure to comply with this directive will result in severe consequences for the companies involved. Mahamed asserted that non-compliance would lead to the revocation of their licenses, accompanied by additional penalties as stipulated in the Private Security Regulation Act of 2016.
He explicitly instructed all private security companies to cease the unlawful retention of documents and promptly surrender all relevant personal paperwork belonging to their security officers within the stipulated timeframe.
As per the Act, the authority reserves the right to cancel licenses on grounds such as misconduct, unprofessionalism, or violation of the Act or its associated code of conduct. Furthermore, companies facing license revocation risk fines exceeding Ksh500,000, alongside other penalties such as the suspension of operational certificates and official warnings.
Quoting a section of the Act, Mahamed emphasized the authority’s power to summon individuals for investigation upon receiving complaints or detecting conduct warranting scrutiny. He disclosed that numerous complaints had been lodged, leaving many security guards in uncertainty.
Mahamed reiterated the illegality of prolonged document withholding and stressed the necessity of halting such practices to prevent inconvenience to security guards. He assured security officers of the authority’s dedication to safeguarding their rights and preventing exploitation.
Additionally, Mahamed urged security guards to report any instances of unlawful document withholding by private security companies promptly. He provided contact information for reporting such cases via email or WhatsApp.
Overall, Mahamed’s ultimatum underscores the PSRA’s commitment to enforcing regulatory compliance within the private security sector while protecting the interests and rights of security personnel.
