Disruption of Kenya’s Private Security Sector through…

Kenya’s private security industry is being transformed by a new guard-hailing app that eliminates traditional firms as middlemen. This app connects clients directly with security guards, promoting fair wages and accountability. Developed by PRSA Director General Fazul Mahamed, it aims to onboard over 1.3 million guards and reduce tax evasion by ensuring transparent transactions. Clients gain flexibility in selecting guards while enhancing job satisfaction for workers.

The private security sector in Kenya is undergoing a significant transformation with the launch of a guard-hailing application. This innovative platform aims to eliminate traditional security firms as intermediaries, establishing a direct connection between security guards and clients. Additionally, it promises fair wages and enhanced accountability in the workforce, addressing systemic issues where guards have been underpaid and clients overcharged.

The app’s creator, Fazul Mahamed, the outgoing Director General of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PRSA), states that the platform will allow clients to hire security personnel through a straightforward digital system. This development aims to reduce administrative costs significantly while ensuring that guards receive equitable wages. The phased rollout of the app is designed to comply with relevant regulatory standards and anticipates onboarding over 1.3 million guards.

Notably, Mahamed highlighted that Kenya is set to be the first country globally to implement such a large-scale disruption of the private security industry. While digital initiatives have emerged elsewhere, none have successfully removed security firms as intermediaries. The app draws inspiration from successful models like tax-hailing services and Airbnb, focusing on cutting administrative inefficiencies and empowering both clients and workers.

Clients will now have the flexibility to choose security personnel tailored to their specific requirements, whether for a single night or on a full-time basis. This flexibility allows for improved job satisfaction for guards, who will have the freedom to select their assignments and set their working hours, ultimately increasing productivity. The platform also allows for instantaneous adjustments to security needs based on client requirements.

Moreover, the application features an emergency response system that prioritizes assistance based on closeness rather than on the firm affiliation, improving response times. The digitization of payments aims to combat rampant tax evasion, which has seen firms evade over Ksh 14 billion in taxes each year, fostering transparency in the sector.

Moreover, a rating system will enable clients to assess guards after each assignment, ensuring accountability and the opportunity for retraining or removal for underperformers. As of now, the app has successfully onboarded 800,000 guards, with projections for further growth.

In summary, the emergence of the guard-hailing application in Kenya’s private security industry represents a revolutionary shift toward transparency, accountability, and empowerment for both security personnel and clients. By minimizing the role of traditional firms, the app enhances operational efficiency, allows for genuine flexibility in hiring practices, and promises to enhance safety through improved response mechanisms. This digital transition is poised to redefine the landscape of private security not only in Kenya but potentially on a global scale.

Original Source: www.citizen.digital