Amid rising concerns over unregulated players in Kenya’s private security space, authorities have moved in to shut down dozens of firms found operating without valid licences, in an effort to restore order and protect standards within the industry.
The Private Security Regulatory Authority has confirmed that 27 security companies have been closed as part of a nationwide enforcement drive targeting operators who fail to meet legal requirements.
Speaking to the Senate Security Committee on Thursday, the authority’s Chief Executive Officer said the operation is ongoing, noting that many new and unregistered firms continue to emerge and operate outside the law, raising both professional and safety concerns.
“Many mushrooming security firms are operating illegally. We have launched a crackdown and closed 27 so far,” Okello told the committee.
The session was led by the chair of the Senate Security Committee, who emphasized that licensing rules require foreign companies to have local shareholding, while locally owned firms must be fully Kenyan-owned to qualify for approval by the regulator.
The authority is responsible for overseeing the private security sector through licensing of firms and personnel, setting training requirements, enforcing compliance with labour laws, vetting officers, and coordinating with state security agencies. It reported that more than 100,000 private security officers are currently registered, all vetted, trained, and issued with identification numbers before deployment.
Okello also highlighted financial challenges affecting the sector, pointing out that several county governments have failed to settle payments for security services rendered, placing strain on service providers. He added that the national government has improved its payment timelines, cutting delays by 67 percent.
He further called on Parliament to fast-track the approval of operational regulations under the Private Security Regulation Act, saying the delay is limiting the authority’s ability to raise revenue independently.
At present, the authority depends entirely on funding from the National Treasury, but Okello noted that with the right regulations in place, it could collect between Sh800 million and Sh1.2 billion annually through levies.
The ongoing enforcement action, coupled with funding and regulatory challenges, reflects broader efforts to streamline a rapidly expanding private security industry that continues to play a key role in supporting national safety operations.
