Companies Under Pressure to Pay Watchmen Ksh30,000 in New 7-Day Ultimatum

Private companies employing watchmen and other security guards have been given a 7-day ultimatum over paying them Ksh30,000 per month.

In a letter released by the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) Chief Executive Faizul Mahamed on Monday, January 29, he announced that security guards in Nairobi should earn Ksh30,000 and Ksh27,183 for the rest of the country.

Faizul noted that the figure should be the minimum wage all security officers take home in line with the stipulated laws.

To enforce strict adherence to the order, Faizul directed all companies to sign a legal commitment letter pledging to pay the security guards the minimum wage.

"All private security companies must sign and submit to [email protected] a copy of the hereto attached legal commitment to pay government-set minimum wage for private security officers," read the letter in part.

"Take notice: Any private security company that fails to submit a duly signed and commissioned copy of the legal commitment within the next seven days from the date of this directive shall be subjected to a statutory review of its registration and licensing status."

Faizul directed all companies to pay all the security guards monthly and keep a proper record of their payments.

"This commitment is made with the understanding that non-compliance with government set minimum wage requirement may result in legal consequences, including fines, penalties, and potential cancellation of our license to operate as a corporate private security service provider," added the legal commitment.

Breaching of the commitment, the Private Security Regulatory Authority, warned that companies would risk deregistration among other legal penalties.

According to stakeholders, the minimum wage is expected to protect the security guards who also play a critical role in ensuring security is guaranteed to citizens.