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Government launches nationwide mandatory vetting, licencing of bouncers

Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) Director General Fazul Mahamed. (Photo: NMG)

By Mercy Asamba | 09 Jan 2024

This follows assault on journalists and NACADA officers at a Nairobi entertainment joint.

All security personnel in the country will have to undergo mandatory vetting, training and licensing.

Those affected include; bouncers, bodyguards, event stewards, VIP protection personnel, celebrity protection personnel, events security and other security personnel in entertainment establishments.

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In a notice dated January 8, 2024, Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) Director General Fazul Mahamed said the Authority had organized a sensitization forum at the Sarova Stanley Hotel on Wednesday over the same.

“In view of the foregoing, 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,” he said.

Mahamed wrote to the security personnel inviting them to the planned sessions saying they are mandatory.

He noted that PSRA is charged with the responsibility of regulating the Private Security Industry in accordance with the law.

“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 provider under the Act,” he said.

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 in accordance with the PSRA Act.

The move follows an incident last week where journalists and some National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) officers were assaulted during a raid at Kettle House Bar and Grill in Lavington, Nairobi.

NACADA had conducted the sting operation to curb shisha smoking at the entertainment joint.

However, according to the police, during the operation, bouncers and revellers used physical force to prevent NACADA officials, police and journalists from overseeing the operation.

At least 21 suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.