KK Security receives an armoured vehicle at the Toyota Kenya showroom in Nairobi on December 4, 2013. An American private security firm, Academi LLC, is hunting for a possible joint venture deal with KK Security. SALATON NJAU
What you need to know:
Academi LLC, which has carved a niche as an elite security services provider, is also eyeing contracts to train Kenya government security forces and private guards to counter insecurity and terrorism threats.
Academi senior vice president for business development Robert Riegle told the Business Daily in an interview that the company has held talks with KK Security for a possible joint venture deal that is however still in the preliminary stages.
An American private security firm associated with controversial Iraq war contractor Blackwater Worldwide is hunting for a possible joint venture deal with a Kenyan company.
Academi LLC, which has carved a niche as an elite security services provider, is also eyeing contracts to train Kenya government security forces and private guards to counter insecurity and terrorism threats.
Academi senior vice president for business development Robert Riegle told the Business Daily in an interview that the company has held talks with KK Security for a possible joint venture deal that is however still in the preliminary stages.
“We are having talks with KK Security towards a joint venture deal. We will take the minority position, meaning our share will not exceed 49 per cent,” said Mr Riegle who was in Nairobi as part of a US delegation of business executives on a visit to Kenya.
If successful, the deal is set to raise competition in the private security industry, which is currently dominated by UK Group G4S, a notch higher.
KK Security Group chief executive James Owando confirmed that Academi had contacted the company but said any possible deal is still a long way off. “At the moment there is nothing on the table, we get those queries many times,” said Mr Owando said in an interview.
Blackwater was founded by former US Navy Seal Erik Prince but came under fire after accusations of human rights abuses in Iraq where it was contracted to work alongside American soldiers.
Academi acquired it in 2010 and rebranded to Xe Services and later adopted the current name.
The news comes just days after it emerged that yet another company associated with Erik Prince has acquired a Kenyan aviation company for the purpose of flying oil mining executives and equipment to remote African exploration sites.
Academi seeks security contracts with both government and commercial clients. The government and private businesses are re-assessing security arrangements following the high-profile Westgate Mall terror attack in September in which 67 people were killed.
Mr Riegle said Academi has the experience to offer counter-terrorism security services for sensitive installations such as shopping malls and embassies.
Active threat response
The North Carolina based company will also be seeking contracts to train Kenyan forces towards “intelligent-led” security including active threat response during attacks.
The company runs training curriculums for both government and commercial clients on its 7,000-acre training facility located in Moyock, North Carolina.
KK Group, known for its manned security services and canine units, has opened new revenue streams including creating an oil and gas division to offer offshore security, accommodation, and logistics to mining companies in far-flung areas.
Currently, Academi runs a training programme for military personnel in 22 African nations including Kenya under the US State Department contracts.
About 100,000 of them have been trained at Academi’s North Carolina training facility since 2003 as part of a US strategy to counter terrorism after the 2001 World Trade Centre attack.
Uganda, Mr Riegle said, has the highest number of soldiers trained at the facility on the continent. Kenya has had 5,000 who attended the training-of-trainers course.
Last September’s terror attack on Westgate Mall exposed unpreparedness by Kenyan forces that resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property.
“Kenya’s security system needs an interface of intelligent policing along with smart technology to better handle the ever-changing face of terrorism,” said Mr Riegle.
