The private security market in Kenya is ripe for an Uber moment. That is according to Fazul Mahamed, the outgoing director general Private Security Regulatory Authority (PRSA).
He has come up with a guard-hailing app that cuts out private security firms, which he insists have been underpaying guards while over-charging clients. But the road will certainly not be a smooth one.
Fazul reveals what he will do to secure a win-win for both clients and guards on-boarded on the new platform.
The private security industry is fundamentally broken. It has been hijacked by security firms that exploit guards, underpaying and overworking them while pocketing massive profits.
These companies act as unnecessary middlemen, creating inefficiencies, suppressing wages, and even engaging in tax evasion.
My inspiration came from witnessing this injustice firsthand during my tenure as the Director General of the Private Security Regulatory Authority.
Security guards are the backbone of the private security industry, yet they live in abject poverty. Many are forced to do non-security related work while on duty, like washing clients’ cars, not out of choice but out of sheer desperation to put food on the table.
It is a heartbreaking reality every Kenyan knows. No one who works so tirelessly to keep others safe should have to live in such indignity. Something had to change.
We have seen how technology has disrupted other industries—Uber in transport and Airbnb in hospitality. The security industry is ripe for the same revolution. By cutting out security firms, we are handing power back to the people who actually do the work: the guards.
They will earn fair wages, set their own schedules, and take control of their careers. At the same time, clients will benefit from a cost-effective, flexible, and transparent security solution.
When can Kenyans expect to see the app in the market?
The app is ready and will be rolled out in phases. We are ensuring that both security guards and clients on boarded meet all regulatory compliance requirements for a seamless and secure experience.
However, let’s be clear: this is an unstoppable movement. Even before the official roll out, over 800,000 security guards have already been on-boarded. By the time we hit full scale, we will have well over 1.3 million guards.
Do we have a market that has implemented such an app, or will Kenya be the first country?
Kenya will be the first country in the world to implement this kind of large-scale disruption in private security. While there have been attempts to digitise elements of security services in other countries, no market has successfully eliminated security firms as intermediaries.
This means Kenya is not just pioneering a new model; it is setting the global standard.
Given the massive interest already generated, we anticipate that this model will spread to other regions, particularly in Africa, where similar inefficiencies plague the private security industry.
Your biggest problem with the status quo in private security is the failure to comply with the minimum wage directive by the court. How will you ensure the minimum wage is attained?
In November 2023, when we set the minimum wage for security guards at Sh30,000, many dismissed the move as a regulatory overreach. However, the courts have now affirmed our position, and this has paved the way for enforcement.
The enforcement of the Sh30,000 minimum wage for security guards has been deliberately undermined by security firms that thrive on exploitation. These firms claim they can’t afford to pay guards the legal minimum wage, yet they report billions in revenue.
The truth is, their business model depends on keeping guards in poverty while they pocket the profits.
The app solves this through a direct payment model, competitive pricing, and transparency through digital transactions. Clients will pay security guards directly through the app, ensuring full compliance with the law. There will be no security firms acting as middlemen, manipulating salaries, or misreporting earnings.
The platform ensures that no client can hire security guards for less than the legally mandated wage. Guards will never have to negotiate for their rights the system enforces it.
To ensure transparency, every payment is logged and trackable, eliminating wage theft and ensuring that security guards receive their full earnings. The old system relied on outdated contracts and unaccountable security firms. This platform ensures fair wages in real time, making compliance automatic and unavoidable.
What plans do you have for quality assurance on the app?
Security is not an industry where compromises can be made. Unlike ride-hailing or food delivery services, security failures can mean loss of life or property. This is why our quality assurance strategy is non-negotiable.
The private security industry is a highly regulated space. Every guard on the platform must meet strict vetting criteria, including a criminal background check, proper training certification from an accredited security training institution, and licensing by the Private Security Regulatory Authority.
Clients will rate security guards after every job. Guards who perform poorly will be flagged, retrained, or removed from the platform.
Further, we will implement a complaint-handling mechanism where complaints from the client and guard can be reported and dealt with.
The platform will also have real-time incident reporting that alerts emergency responders instantly. Guards will be required to check in and log reports through the app, ensuring transparency in operations.
The app integrates with a command centre to provide immediate assistance in case of emergencies, ensuring guards and clients always have backup.
We are not just digitising private security; we are setting higher standards for professionalism, accountability, and reliability than ever seen before.
How many people do you project will be employed by the app?
As of now, 800,000 security guards have been on-boarded, and we are well on course to surpass 1.3 million, making this the largest employment platform outside of government.
The ripple effect is enormous: beyond the guards, the platform will create additional jobs in emergency response, tech support, security training, and compliance, resulting in a total of over 2 million jobs.
This isn’t just about security. This is about economic empowerment on an unprecedented scale. The private security sector is finally being transformed from a system of exploitation into a fair, transparent, and well-paying industry.
