Three Sixteen Protection and Care Services close protection officers on duty. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
Protection officers who ensure you can enjoy moving around without fear.
On Saturday February 7, Kenyans woke up to news that Kabete Member of Parliament George Muchai had been murdered by unknown gunmen.
It was reported that Muchai, his drivers and two bodyguards had stopped to buy newspapers when the gunmen struck, killing all occupants of the car they were travelling in.
This incident is one in a growing list of attacks targeting influential Kenyans. This has led to an increase in demand for professional risk management and close protection services.
Close protection officers (CPOs) may not guarantee 100 per cent security but they significantly reduce the risk of injury to the person under protection through effective protection programmes.
But close protection is not limited to the very important (VIP) or commercially important persons (CIP) in society. It is available to any individual who feels the need to carry a heavy security team.
Protection
“Among the people who seek close protection services are company heads, businessmen, celebrities and expatriates. Their reasons are diverse; ranging from privacy, crowd control and protection from potential acts of thuggery and general or targeted crime,” says Richard Marisa, managing director Twenty Four Secure Security Services company.
The security team is, however, never deployed without proper background checks. The security company conducts an indepth analysis of the case to ensure that a detailed security planning and implementation framework is initiated.
This review involves an in-depth analysis of the person interested in close protection services. The details being sought include the character of the CIP or VIP and the possible threats to his life.
The analysis helps in determining potential vulnerabilities of the client, and makes it easier for the CPOs to draft the best strategy for handling his situation.
A. Hunsicker, a US-based security enforcement and personal protection specialist, in his Fine Art of Executive Protection book, says that it is the responsibility of the CPO to ask the questions that establish the dangers that the client might face and to recommend proper countermeasures.
The local close protection industry is a reality and the country boasts a number of security companies with arms specialising in close protection of CIPs and VIPs.
“The security industry has grown a lot in the past few years and no longer involves deploying guards to man gates. It is now providing more complex services to private clients, corporates and organisations,” said Dennis Ndegwa, chief executive of Three Sixteen Protection and Care Services company, which specialises in close protection services.
Sophisticated
Urbanisation and increasing incidents of crime and terrorism are some of the factors that have triggered the growth of the industry.
“Kenya is growing exponentially. This can only lead to the same levels of growth in crime and terrorism as other parts of the world. The market for services mitigating this threat is one that is readily available,” says Tony Sahni managing director Securex Security company.
“As a publicly exposed person, you cannot afford to ignore or underestimate a threat even if it is in the form of a text message sent to your phone or an enemy,” says Ndegwa.
Ndegwa says an enemy can use bombs, car crashes and/or active shooter scenarios to strike. Aware of these means - the common one being the active shooter scenario - the CPOs deployed in the field to protect VIPs or CIPs employ movements and concepts that mitigate the threat.
The demand for armed close protection officers has been inspired by the sophisticated weaponry being used.
“The demand for armed security has been shaped by increasing cases of instability and terrorism. Case in point, the MP getting killed while under the protection of armed government security personnel. This, I feel, could have been mitigated if trained CPOs were the ones protecting him as they are well trained in this field,” says Sanhi.
Lifestyle
The adoption of close protection security services demands a complete change in the client’s lifestyle. It can involve a change in their social life meaning that there are places they can no longer hang out or people they can longer be seen with. The client may also be required to use different cars when travelling or randomly change their routes.
Proper security encompasses a number of routines that may seem outrageous to the average person but are vital in ensuring the safety of the client.
Alert
For instance, when a CIP is visiting a specific venue, advance planning is needed. A security team is deployed prior to the visit to ‘sanitise’ the area.
The process can also involve advance airport clearance for international clients, whereby the security company works in partnership with various authorities to ensure that clients do not make a stop at the terminal - as the wait during clearance may pose a risk to them and people around.
The CPOs on dispatch are individuals who have undergone training in close protection services. They must possess high level combat skills to arrest life-threatening situations.
“The CPOs need to display a level of skill and alertness to combat threats and their effectiveness can only be achieved if they are well trained,” says Ndegwa.
But close protection services do not come cheap.
“A full time service requires between Sh500,000 to Sh2 million in monthly investments,” says Ndegwa.
“We charge Sh3,000 per officer per hour, which excludes transport and per diem, if the assignment involves out of town travel,” explains Marisa.
The rates are also influenced by the movements of the principal person, use of armoured cars and standby resources like ambulances.
