KNPSWU National Secretary General Isaac Andabwa leads the union in demanding for reforms and better working conditions

Nairobi Saturday 19th 2023

Kenya National Private Security Workers Union (KNPSWU) an umbrella body that brings together all the private security workers in Kenya has  asked the government to look into the plight of its members.

Speaking yesterday in Nairobi, Mr Isaac Andabwa the Union’s secretary general decried the poor state of affairs in the industry 8 years down the line after the road to reforming the sector began.

Flanked by officials of the union drawn from all the branches in the country, Mr Andabwa called on the  regulator to expedite the key areas they agreed upon during the reform journey so that the guards who are contributing over 3Billion Ksh per month in taxes get value for their sweat.

Minimum wage must be adhered to~Andabwa.

Andabwa lamented that despite the government setting up the country’s minimum wage at 16,000Ksh, several clandestine private security companies were still exploiting workers by paying them as little as 10,000ksh as the government watches.

“As a union, we are baffled by the way some private  security firms are treating their staff. How on earth do a security firm pay 8000ksh as salary? Who issued the operation’s certificate? These are some of the hard questions we are asking the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) led by my friend Fazul. The excercise currently underway by both Fazul and the PS Interior Mr Omollo going around collecting data on who is paying below the wage bill is an excercise in futility and a waste of government money. The companies paying below the minimum wage are known and the people behind them known too. They are MPs, big people in government and former or current high ranking state security officers. Corruption is rife in this sector and we want to ask the government of President Ruto to look into these grievances we are putting forth.” said Andabwa.

While adding wait to the grave matters of concern at hand, the KNPSWU Mombasa branch secretary Mr Raphael Juma heaped all the blame on Mr Fazul the PSRA(Private Security Regulatory Authority ) boss.

Juma has claimed that Fazul is single handedly running the show at the expense of other stakeholders.

“When the reforms journey started during President Uhuru’s tenure, we used to work together with Fazul. Many a times you could see our SG Mr Andabwa in meetings with both Fazul and former CS Matiang’i but now Fazul has become alone ranger? Whose interests is he working for if the real sector stakeholders are not involved? Mr Fazul is busy opening academies all over the country, not long ago he was in Mombasa with PS Omollo but he did not even have the courtesy to engage the KNPSWU leadership on the ground. Fazul has become like a god in that office yet companies are closing down rendering our people jobless due to the punitive measures that are chasing them out of market as non compliant companies thrive as he watches. We demand immidiate attention to the raised grievances” lamented Juma.

Others who spoke directed their frustrations at the door of PSRA/Fazul for his conduct that is bringing the industry down.

“Private security sector has been infiltrated by refugees who have compromised our market. Foreigners who are supposed to be in refugee camps have taken up jobs meant for locals due to their low salary demands. Refugees give in easily to a pay of 5000ksh per month which unscrupulous  firms are more than willing to pay for their services. This must stop. We demand the exit of Fazul as the chairman of  PSRA. His continued stay does not serve the original purpose” said Mr Aden Osman the asst SG KNPSWU.

The officials further called on the Kenya Kwanza governments to make deliberate efforts and ensure that the security industry finds a special place in its agenda.

“During campaigns, Mr President told us that we shall be part and parcel of his government but now all we hear is Boda boda and mama Mbogas, where is Bawabu in your government? Are we not paying the housing levy just like other workers? Mr President attend to our cries” added Mr Karakacha from BM security firm.

The Union further called on the regulator to take notice of non compliant companies paying below the minimum wages yet are guarding government installations.

“It is shocking to note that even the government  which is also a consumer of private security services is engaging non compliant firms in their institutions. We are not afraid to name and shame Total security company guarding NSSF building yet it pays below minimum wage, Gyto security company that is at the Supreme court yet it pays below the decreed minimum wage. Where are we heading? What is the future of private security in Kenya?” wondered Mr Andabwa.

Conclusion.

Cognizant of the tough challenges our security personnel go through, Mr Andabwa has challenged the regulator to ensure firms employ a reputable mental health staff to regularly check on staff health.

“The bad state of our economy plus the poor working conditions have taken toll on our staff. Most guards have turned suicidal. A case in point was in Kikuyu where a guard took his own life when he realized he dint have fare back home. I want to call on the regulator to ensure companies hire mental health staff to help the security providers. At times these guards encounter alot while on duty and if their mental well being is overlooked they either go mad or suicidal. But Iam not advocating for guards  taking their own lives however hard things maybe, instead let us all go to statehouse and seek audience with the president.” concluded Andabwa.

The leadership of KNPSWU later unanimously resolved that if the minimum wage is not met by the security firms, they will have no other option but to down their tools