Q&A With President of the Kenya Private Security and Safety Federation, Cosmas Mutava nairobiwire.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nairobiwire.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
THE STANDARD
NATIONAL
Kenya National Private Security Workers Union s Joash Soita Andawa (left) and Mombasa Security Industry Association chairman James Matheka during training for the private security guards at Tudor in Mombasa County on Thursday, May 20, 2021. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]
The quest for private security guards to be armed with guns went a notch higher today after the vetting of 2,000 registered firms kicked off.
Kenya Private Security Regulative Authority (KPSRA) Administrator Joash Soita said only 10 per cent of firms had met the minimum threshold set by the government.
Some of the rules set by the Ministry of Interior being looked at include whether the firms have complied with standardised training, better remunerations and ensuring the guards have health cover.
Security guards lose bid for Covid-19 State medical allowances
Tuesday April 06 2021
A guard stands next to a signage at the entrance of an institution in Nyeri ready to screen guests on August 6, 2020. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NMG
By JOSEPH WANGUI
Summary
Security guards have lost their bid to get a share of the government s Covid-19 medical emergency allowance fund and other benefits allocated to frontline healthcare workers such as provision of the personal protection equipments (PPEs).
Labour Court judge Nzioki wa Makau said though exposed to the coronavirus, they were not entitled to the Covid-19 emergency allowance.
Security guards have lost their bid to get a share of the government s Covid-19 medical emergency allowance fund and other benefits allocated to frontline healthcare workers such as provision of the personal protection equipments (PPEs).
THE STANDARD
FINANCIAL STANDARD
A security guard checks the temperature of an electoral official (PHOTO: LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP) From today, when asked, don’t say you are a watchman. Say you re a security officer.
These simple words of affirmation came from President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2016 during a State House meeting with over 4,000 private security guards.
The year marked a watershed moment for the crucial lucrative but largely overlooked industry. In May that year, the Private Security Industry Regulation Bill seeking to streamline the sector had come into law.
The guards had also finally got the ear of the Head of State to discuss their welfare after numerous attempts.
“We call on the Ministry of Labour to intervene and have our members back to work. They were sent home without any compensation and now some of them are unable to survive,” said Andabwa.
He said the guards living in town are hardest hit since they can no longer afford basic needs especially food and shelter.
“Some have been kicked out of their houses for accrued rent arrears,” said the KNPSWU boss.
All unions affiliated to Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) are currently conducting elections for new office bearers as per labour requirements.
The union’s officials from the 13 branches across the country met in Nairobi ahead of the national delegates conference slated for next month and unanimously agreed Andabwa including his entire team should continue serving.