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In pictures: Security guards throng Uhuru Park as mass registration begins

Private security personnel from various firms gather at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on March 30, 2024, for the launch of a mass registration that will see them issued with the Guard Force Number. (Photo: Mary Wambui)

By Mary Wambui | Saturday, March 30, 2024

The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) is targeting at least 30,000 private security personnel.

Private security personnel from various firms gathered Saturday at Uhuru Park in Nairobi for the launch of a mass registration that will see them issued with the Guard Force Number (GFN), as part of efforts to streamline the sector.

The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has initiated the exercise for bouncers and other security guards, which targets 30,000 individuals, to facilitate the regulation of the private security industry.

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Private security personnel from various firms get registered for the Guard Force Number at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on March 30, 2024. (Photo: Handout)

Private security personnel from various firms are pictured during their mass registration at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on March 30, 2024. (Photo: PSRA)

The GFN serves as the sole evidence that a private security officer has undergone proper registration and licensing by the authority, in line with the provisions of the Private Security Act.

According to the Private Security Act number 13 of 2016, it is a legal requirement that individuals refrain from engaging in the provision of private security services or offering security services in the country without undergoing the necessary vetting and registration by PSRA.

For decades, the role of a private security officer has been undervalued and often referred to as "watchman," equating to an individual with limited formal education and skills to handle intricate crimes.

However, the evolving nature of modern-day crime has underscored the need for these officers to be adequately trained to play a crucial role in crime detection and prevention, thereby contributing significantly to national security.

Private security personnel from various firms are pictured during their mass registration at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on March 30, 2024. (Photo: PSRA)

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Fazul Mahamed, the director-general of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) during the mass registration of private security personnel at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on March 30, 2024. (Photo: PSRA)