Gov’t Allows Kenyan Private Security Guards to Use Firearms

The government has approved plans to issue private security guards from authorized companies with firearms in a bid to allow them help the police in fighting crime. 

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said the government will first vet security firms before allowing them to arm their personnel.

“The government will issue gun licenses to vetted companies, who will in turn arm their personnel to conduct their businesses,” said the CS.

The security guards will start receiving the guns in July, which will see armed police officers withdrawn from the Cash-In-Transit (CIT) business. Matiang’i announced the news during a meeting with members of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA).

“We are in the process of creating a centralised data of all guards in the country so that their activities and tasks are well coordinated. We also want them to have similar uniform and a specified identification document,” added the CS.

The plan was approved by the National Security Advisory Committee which is made of 
the President; the Deputy President;  Cabinet Secretary responsible for Defence, Foreign Affairs and Interior; the Attorney-General; the Chief of Kenya Defence Forces; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Service and the Inspector-General of Police.