Isaac Andabwa: Stop Ignoring Private Securlity guards as essential service providers amid covid 19 Pandemic

Kenya National Private Security Workers Union (KNPSWU) the umbrella body that takes care of  private security officers otherwise known as “watchies” has come out  strongly to speak out against the general ignoring of security guards by the government.

Speaking to members of the press early today, the over 100 shop steeards drawn from over 100 security firms led by the organisation’s Sg Mr Isaac Andabwa, the umbrella body raised serious points of concern that they want asdressed.

“Ignoring the private guards is simply encouraging the spread of the virus while exposing the guards who are essential service providers more vulnerable. This is in itself demeaning and disabling them by way of refusing to facilitate their operations in the eyes of the public” Bro Andabwa said.

# Government has not extended any intervention measures towards private security guards.

Despite Covid 19 kitty have billions of cash, no practical aid has been extended to the private security providers.

“It is a fact and practical reality that our colleagues in the essential service providers bracket namely Doctors, nurses,community health workers, morgue attendants, learning institutions, health centers, construction sites, supermarkets, and public ‘ exhibit the highest level of physical interactions with our officers. Besides guards are at the fore taking body temperatures and offering tria1.

# Give guards the 18pc minimum wage due to them as directed by H.E President Uhuru.

From 2018 when the government through a presidential directive gave orders for a 18pc minimum wage.
“It is so disheartening that  when the government gave orders for a minimum wage, other sectors have been granted by the private guards are yet to receive theirs. This has eroded the guard’s purchasing power making them unable to even purchase common essentials needed for combating covid 19” lamented Mr Andabwa.

Mr Andabwa has further lauded the government for its stimulus package to vulnerable groups.
“We request the government while extending the stimulus package to extend it directly and create foras for capacity building on covid 19 across all the 47 counties for majority of the guards have been rendered jobless due to closure of work stations” Andabwa added