In a notice dated January 8, 2024, the government of Kenya through the Private Security Regulatory Authority CEO Fazul Mahamed said no person shall be allowed to engage in the provision of private security services unless they have been security vetted, registered, and licensed. The Government has commenced the mandatory nationwide security vetting, training, and licensing of all bouncers, bodyguards, event stewards, door supervisors, event security, VIP protection, close protection, and crowd control security personnel.
This comes days after journalists and officers from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) were assaulted during a raid at Kettle House Bar and Grill in Lavington on the 5th of January, 2024. The operation was aimed at the establishment due to reports of it permitting patrons to smoke shisha within the club after NACADA had burned the smoking of shisha at entertainment joints.
In line with the requirements of the Private Security Regulation Act (2016), Section 2 of the Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016 provides that bouncers, event security personnel, VIP protection personnel, Crowd Control Personnel, or any other person hired or otherwise engaged to ensure order and safety on premises used for entertainment, recreational or sporting purposes falls within the legal definition of a private security service provided under the Act. Further, sections 21 and 28 of the Act require that no person shall engage in the provision of private security services unless that person has been Security vetted, registered, and licensed under the Act.
In this regard, the Authority has organized a sensitization forum at the Sarova Stanley Hotel on Wednesday, 17th January 2024 at 8:30 A.M. The forum is free of charge, however, for ease of planning you are required to confirm your attendance through our email – info@psra.go.ke.