President William Ruto orders removal of 'watchman' and 'guard' terms for private security personnel

Speaking at State House on Thursday, August 6, to thousands of private security officers, President Ruto stated that these terms are remnants of the colonial era and demean the profession. He emphasized that all work holds equal worth and that the historical labels were imposed by outsiders. The President instructed that the new title, "private security officers," be adopted.

He further ordered amendments to four specific legal instruments: the Private Security Regulatory Authority Act, the General Wages Order, the Private Security Wages Order, and the Private Security Regulation Act, to reflect this change. Relevant state agencies and representatives of the security officers have been given 60 days to implement the directive and report on their progress. This initiative aims to uphold the dignity of private security officers, a sector that employs many Kenyans across various institutions and public spaces.