Security firms appeal to CS Kindiki after licence cancellation

Three security firms have appealed to Interior cabinet secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki to intervene after their operating licences were canceled.

The security firms are seeking to prevent the Private Security Regulatory Authority(PRSA) from canceling their operating licenses.

Bedrock Security Services Limited, Bedrock Security Alarm Systems and Products Limited, and Superb Skills Solutions Limited are among nine companies that were affected by PRSA’s decision to cancel their licenses on February 5th, 2024.

The firms argue that they were not given prior warning or valid reasons for the cancellation.

The companies are active members of the Professional Security & Safety Association of Kenya and Protective Security Industry Association.

“The three firms, represented by their lawyers, have informed the PRSA that it is now barred from addressing the matter until the Cabinet Secretary(CS) makes a decision within 30 days, as provided for under section 43 of the Private Security Regulation Act of 2016,” the firms noted in a statement.

The action follows court battles and protests from industry associations that disagreed with a previous PRSA notice calling for a minimum wage of Ksh30,000 per security guard.

The notice was later disowned by Labour CS Florence Bore.

Section 43 of the PSRA Act of 2016 allows for an appeal to the Cabinet Secretary if a practitioner is aggrieved by a decision of the regulator.

It also stipulates that the moment an appeal is lodged with the Cabinet Secretary, the Authority and its secretariat are stopped, prohibited, and barred from handling the matter until the CS resolves the dispute.

Additionally, the CS is required to appoint a three-man Ad Hoc team to advise him on the dispute, and he must make a determination within 30 days.