Private security guards will from July this year be issued with guns.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i said security firms will be vetted and issued with gun licenses in readiness to tackle various forms of crime.
“The government will issue gun licenses to vetted companies, who will in turn arm their personnel to conduct their businesses,” said the CS according to Daily Nation
He also said that government will withdraw armed police officers from the Cash-In-Transit (CIT) business come July.
The CS who on Thursday met members of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) noted there are about 2, 000 armed police officers seconded to various CIT businesses.
He ordered PSRA to look into the welfare of the guards as they will be tasked with more responsibilities once they are issued with firearms.
“We are in the process of creating a centralised data of all guards in the country so that their activities and tasks are well coordinated. We also want them to have similar uniform and a specified identification document,” added the CS.
Only reputable security firms will be allowed to operate in the new security plan.
Matiang’i’s order comes after the National Security Advisory Committee approved the proposal to arm guards.
PSRA will in the next two weeks come up with a formulation on who deserves to be licensed to hold the firearm.