8 September 2010

Nairobi — Two key organisations have opposed the proposal to arm private security guards.

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) and the Consumer Federation of Kenya said it was not yet time to arm guards.

"Kepsa, who has among its members the Kenya Security Industry Association and the Protective Security Industry Association, had the opportunity to present a memorandum to the Police Reforms Task Force and it was categorical that we do not feel yet that the private security guards should be armed," chief executive officer Carole Kariuki said on Wednesday.

The alliance took part in the ministerial security stakeholders fora and said although insecurity was a threat to growth, arming private security guards was not the solution.

The consumer federation insists a lot more needs to be done to guarantee safe use, safety of personnel and monitoring of the firearms.

"While many sympathise at the defenceless guards at the hands of heavily armed criminals, doubts abound as to whether arming the guards would offer panacea," the federation's programme officer, Ms Faith Mwende said.

She said it would be easier to spend more on police recruitment than arming the guards whose training and integrity were wanting. The Private Security Regulation Bill 2010 Section 24(1) says:

"A registered private security firm may, subject to the provisions of the Firearms Act and any other written law, provide weapons for the use of the personnel in its employment".

This, the organisations say, will likely lead to privatisation of public service and increase the cost of doing business.