Kenya: Private Security Guards Protest In Nairobi

Private security guards on Thursday staged a protest in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) over poor pay and lack of work tools.

The employees, led by their union president Bernard Injendi, grumbled that they had been ignored and that their employers had not carried out the minimum wage agreement.

Fazul Mahamed, the director general of the Private Security Regulatory Authority, was also accused by Injendi of failing to uphold his duty to defend their interests.

“It is very painful that our employers are yet to implement the minimum wage, Mr Fazul since we put him into that office in 2018 he hasn’t done anything for us and we want him to explain to us why,” Injendi stated.

Didmus Nyongesa of Securex Security responded on his behalf, stating that although they support the increased NSSF rates, they are waiting for the President to step in and break the impasse.

“We fully support the President on the issue of NSSF but we want him to listen to grievances of security guards in this country and assist us to get our minimum wage because our salary is meagre and we have a lot of responsibilities,” Nyongesa stated.

Ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered a 12% increase in the minimum monthly payments during the 2022 May Labor Day celebrations. 

The order was mostly for low-paid workers like cashiers, drivers, guards, cleaners, salespeople, and property caretakers.

The night security guards' pay would increase by 12% to Sh16,958.98 from Sh15,141.95.

The majority of firms reportedly disregarded the directive and continued to pay their workforce pitiful salaries despite the difficult economic conditions, thus the workers have yet to experience the benefits.