The anticipated meeting hosted by Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore on Thursday, March 28, to discuss concerns surrounding the minimum wage policy for private security officers saw notable absences, including Francis Atwoli, the Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions, Kenya (COTU-K), and four Chief Executive Officers (CEOs).
The meeting, intended to take place in the CS’s office, aimed to delve into the ongoing debate regarding the minimum wage for private security officers, a topic that has sparked discussions over the past couple of months.
And the invitees were…
Among those invited were Jacqueline Mugo, CEO of the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE); Fazul Mahamed, CEO of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA); the Chairman of the Private Security Regulatory Authority; Isaac Andabwa, Secretary General of the Kenya National Private Security Workers Union; Annette Kimitei, Managing Director of SENACA Security Services; and Cosmas Mutava, CEO of the Kenya Security Industry Association and Chairman of the Protective and Safety Association of Kenya.
Unfortunately, reports revealed that these stakeholders were unable to attend due to the short notice of the invitation, which was sent out just a day before the scheduled meeting.
CS Bore’s initiative to convene the meeting coincided with a planned gathering of private security guards at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on Saturday, March 30, for mass registration and the issuance of guard force numbers. Speculation also arose regarding a potential demonstration during the gathering to advocate for PSRA’s proposal of a minimum salary of Ksh30,000.
However, Bore refrained from endorsing the recommendations, citing ongoing legal proceedings as the reason for her decision. She emphasized that the matter is currently sub judice and expressed confidence in the judicial system to deliver a fair and just verdict in accordance with the law and the constitution.
This development followed PSRA’s issuance of a 30-day ultimatum to companies to comply with the new minimum wage structure, adding further complexity to the already contentious issue.
As stakeholders navigate through the intricacies of wage policies and legal proceedings, the broader conversation on fair compensation and labour rights for private security officers remains a significant topic in Kenya’s labour landscape.
