Security guards, commonly referred to as “sojas”, a sarcastic twist on “soldiers” are the silent protectors of our homes, businesses, and institutions. They are the first line of defense in most public and private spaces, yet they remain among the most underpaid, overworked, and overlooked professionals in Kenya. While the human rights community often focuses on abuses committed by uniformed officers like police and military personnel, the suffering of security guards is rarely addressed. Their working conditions, economic struggles, and systemic mistreatment reveal a hidden crisis that deserves an urgent attention.

Working Hard, Earning Peanuts

A significant majority of Kenya’s security guards earn as little as Ksh 15,000 per month, an amount that has remained unchanged for the last 25 years, according to industry lobbies. This is despite the fact that private security firms charge clients anywhere between Ksh 40,000 to Ksh 100,000 per guard. The difference between what security firms charge clients and what guards actually earn is shocking. A serious wage exploitation in this industry.

A 2024 report by the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) provides a deeper insight:

• Kenya has over 800,000 private security guards, making the sector one of the largest employers in the country.
• The private security industry has an annual turnover of over Ksh 300 billion.
• Despite these figures, most security guards remain stuck in poverty, with many forced to live in slums due to low wages and unfair working conditions.

The PSRA issued a directive setting the minimum wage for private security guards at Ksh 30,000 per month, upheld by the High Court of Kenya. However, implementation remains a challenge. Many security firms have failed to adjust their pay structures, citing non-payment from clients as an excuse.

Human Rights Violations

Beyond low wages, security guards endure inhumane working conditions. Interviews and reports from the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA) reveal that many guards:

• Work for over 12 hours per day without adequate or no rest at all sometimes.
• Lack basic necessities like access to clean water, shelter, or even proper toilet facilities while on duty.
• Are forced to work under extreme weather conditions without protective gear.

“When it rains at night, I have no shelter. The company locks its doors, and I am left outside. I have to find a sack to cover myself.” One security guard in Nairobi’s Industrial Area narrated his daily struggles:

In most cases, if not all, when a company is robbed, the security guard is the first to be blamed. Guilty until proven innocent. Many have lost their jobs while some even got arrested.

Delayed and Withheld Salaries

Some guards wait for up to three months without pay. In the worst cases, their wages never come at all. Those who dare to quit risk losing everything. Security firms blame delayed client payments, but in the meantime, guards are left to struggle, unable to afford even the basics of survival.

Legal Reforms: Are They Enough?

The Legal Notice No. PSRA/005/2023, issued by the Private Security Regulatory Authority, aimed to improve security guards’ conditions:

Minimum wage set at Ksh 30,000 for guards in urban areas and Ksh 27,183 outside Nairobi.
Employers are required to provide overtime pay, house allowance, and social security deductions.
The High Court of Kenya dismissed a petition opposing the new wages, meaning security firms must comply.

Despite these reforms, enforcement remains weak. Many security firms ignore the directive, and government oversight has been minimal.

This is not just a labour issue, This is a human rights crisis. Unless urgent reforms are implemented and enforced, our guards will continue to suffer in silence.