Kenya National Private Security Workers’ Union national secretary general Bro. Isaac Andabwa has come out breathing fire under the throat of Okiya Omutata who he has said should stop being used as an activist in the ongoing battle between pro reforms and anti reforms in the private security guards reforms.
Omutata shouldn’t act like this, supporting people who are misusing security guards, people who are majorly drawn from western Kenya. He should not work with cohorts who have stolen billion of shillings belonging to innocent guards.
While releasing press statement to news room Bro. Isaac Andabwa said, our attention has been drawn to a PETITION filled in the High Court of Kenya by Mr Okiya Omutata against,
- Private security regulatory Authority, (PSRA),
- Board- Private Security regulatory Authority,
- Cabinet Secretary- Ministry of interior and coordination of national government,
- Hon. Attorney general,
- Mr Yusuf Mahamed Fazul- Private Security regulatory Authority.
In his petition Mr Okiya Omutata is seeking interim order of prohibition prohibiting the respondents and their agents, or any person purporting to act under their authority, from giving effect in any way whatsoever to the Private Security Regulatory Authority’s ongoing exercise of inspecting and vetting private security companies based on the Press Statement dated Monday, 9th December, 2019.
This move has not received warm welcome from Bro. Andabwa who has accused Mr. Omutata of being an opportunist who has received inducement from briefcase employers who are hellbent on objecting reforms in the private security sector. He said, “Omutata don’t take these people’s money, join me and let us fight for the rights of these guards who many are your brothers”
Mr Andabwa also said, ” I knows how much the briefcase employers led by Cosmas Mutava of Protective Security Industry Association (PSIA ) and Mr. Enock Alumasi Makanga of PROSAK ( professional Security & Safety in Kenya) have contributed to hire Mr Omutata to go to court to obtain orders to stop this matter” Initially they had tried bribing Mps but their move was thwarted when Cs Fred Matiangi stood firm and said, reforms must happen in the private security sector and Mps backed off.
“I know these people are frustrating security guard’s reforms, PROSAK as employers are not remitting KRA taxes, PSIA are not paying guards sufficiently, under them guards don’t have life insurance, guards don’t receive their due overtime, guards are under paid , no minimum wages, we have guards close to 700,000 and above supporting families nearing 2,000,000 either direct or indirect, how do you move to court to stop reforms that are supposed to raise their standards, he posed.
The briefcase private security employers have failed to present or forward their CVs to the Regulatory Authority as required by the Regulatory Act for vetting. Why would they now contribute money to have Mr Omutata to purport to be acting in the best interest of the industry. They once looked for Mr Fazul but he turned them down, they used to call him until he switched off communication and that’s why they have turned to courts through Omutata, Br. Andabwa said.
These employers cannot evade the act or defeat the Government’s effort on reforms in the Private Security Sector. Other sectors including the Judiciary that they are running to had to reform in order to provide professional services. Is this not the same process the private security sector should go through? Bro. Andabwa questioned.
The employers against the regulatory act are mostly drawn from the PRIVATE SECURITY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (PSIA) and PRIVATE SECURITY INDUSTRY IN KENYA (PROSAK) and they are notoriously known as Tax evaders and none of them complies with remittance of statutory rights of employees eg PAYE, NHIF, NSSF and insurances. So why would Mr. Okiya Omutata support their illegitimate move?
Reforms in all sectors of our Economy started way back during Hon. Kibaki’s Government and have been ongoing. Those with legal mind like Mr Omutata should not stand at the door of reform and prevent the country and citizens from enjoying sound, responsive and responsible Private Security Guarding.
Let us not hide behind the influx of COVID 19 as the reason to abate and extend criminal Activity of these private security employers. From 1963, Private Security Guarding has been an issue in this Country. Those unwilling to toe the line of reform are the ones running to Courts for fear of lose to their illicit trade. Reforming Private Security Sector is not a matter of when but is Now.
