Revolutionizing Kenya’s Private Security Industry: The Guard-Hailing App

The introduction of a guard-hailing app in Kenya aims to transform the private security industry by removing traditional intermediaries, allowing direct communication between security personnel and clients. The initiative promises fair wages, increased transparency, and improved accountability, while also enhancing response times and providing clients with greater control over their security needs.

The private security sector in Kenya is poised for significant change due to the launch of a guard-hailing application meant to eliminate traditional security firms as intermediaries. This innovative application aims to establish a direct connection between security guards and clients, ensuring fair wages and enhanced accountability. The industry has been criticized for inefficiencies, with firms exploiting guards through low wages while overcharging clients.

Fazul Mahamed, the outgoing Director General of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PRSA) and the app’s creator, asserts that the platform will empower clients to hire security personnel directly through a digital interface, reducing administrative costs and guaranteeing fair pay for guards. The app is set to be released in phases to maintain adherence to regulatory standards.

Mahamed expects that when fully implemented, over 1.3 million guards will participate in the platform. It will feature real-time payment systems to ensure fair wages and automatic compliance with industry regulations. He states, “Kenya will be the first country in the world to implement this kind of large-scale disruption in private security, eliminating security firms as intermediaries.”

The application draws parallels with successful disruptions seen in the taxi-hailing and rental accommodation sectors, improving client and worker control while minimizing inefficiencies. Clients can engage security personnel tailored to their specific requirements and can scale their security needs flexibly without being bound by conventional contracts.

This platform also enhances guard autonomy, allowing them to select jobs and manage their schedules, thereby increasing job satisfaction and productivity. Additionally, the emergency response feature prioritizes assistance based on proximity, drastically improving response times and safety.

The private security industry is frequently associated with significant tax evasion, as firms evade over Ksh 14 billion annually. The digitization of payments through this application promotes transaction transparency, benefiting both government revenues and security personnel. Furthermore, clients will have the ability to rate security guards post-assignment, addressing performance issues effectively, with 800,000 guards already onboarded and expectations for continued growth.

In conclusion, the introduction of the guard-hailing application in Kenya’s private security industry marks a transformative shift towards direct engagement between clients and security personnel. By eliminating traditional intermediaries, ensuring fair wages, and increasing accountability, the platform addresses long-standing inefficiencies and empowers both parties. This innovative model not only promises enhanced transparency in transactions and improved responsiveness but also significantly raises the standard of security provision in the region.

Original Source: www.citizen.digital