The sudden cancellation of operating licenses of nine Private Security Companies puts in the line over 20,000 jobs in the sector, the Professional Security & Safety Association of Kenya and Protective Security Industry Association have warned. On February 5, 2024, the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) issued a legal notice cancelling the licenses of these companies without prior warning. The companies had previously passed through stringent vetting procedures and been issued with five-year operating licenses apart from three whose applications were being processed. The associations say this would affect existing contracts which are being paid at much lower rates including through existing tendered contracts by government institutions. “Assumptions that other security companies will take up the slack are erroneous as for most organizations and institutions including resident associations the turnaround time for a new security provider is guided by a strict procurement process which takes weeks if not months for new appointments and contract signing.

Source: Daily Nation February 07, 2024 04:12 UTC