Following a series of terror attacks in Kenya the latest being the Dusit attack where 21 people lost their lives, government believed that if security guards at such premises where these attacks have always happened where armed with guns, the outcomes would be not so volatile lie they have been.
More weapons will always means more violence, the weapons will proliferate to the criminal/terrorists elements, the worst case scenario is when the guards turn into criminals. Only the military and special police units should be armed.
— Kurii Kamutati (@kkamutati) January 19, 2019
However, the government of Kenya had wanted to borrow a leaf and notes from the Ugandan government where security guards working under the different security companies are armed with guns, this followed a sequence of seeking knowledge on how the arms are given out and regulated.
The private security industry is not immune to rogue behavior with several private security guards having in the recent past been implicated in bank robberies whilst others have been responsible for rape and grisly murders.
— George Njoroge (@georgenjoroge_) January 19, 2019
The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) regulator’s Chief Executive Fazul Mahamed had made a statement in January while at a meeting at Railways club in Nairobi following the Dusit attack that security guards will be armed by June this year.
However, on Thursday the Authority’s vice chair Eric Opiyo trashed his boss’ claims saying that the initial plan to arm the guards will be enforced when the law that prevents the move is replaced by one that warrants it.
Security Vetting, Firearms Proficiency Training, and Improved Private Security Officers (Guards) Welfare to Precede Arming of Guards. https://t.co/I3x0o76NVt
— Private Security Regulatory Authority (@PSRAuthority) February 2, 2019
If this was to be done, it could have called for amendment of the existing laws according to Section 53 of the law for the establishment of the PSRA, security firms that engage in actions of arming guards are liable to fines amounting to Ksh2.5 million. The Firearms Act, on the other hand, also prevents the arming of civilians in an effort to protect the general public.
Therefore, this hangs in balance the hope of having security armed with guns in Kenya, they will have to wait for a while to have this practical in Kenya as they wait for the Legislature to change the existing laws.