President William Ruto has issued a stern warning to private security companies, directing them to immediately comply with the government’s minimum wage regulations by paying all security guards at least Sh30,000 a month.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday, the President said it was unacceptable that some security firms were still paying guards as little as Sh6,000 or Sh7,000 despite existing labour laws and previous government directives.
Ruto also ordered all private security companies to remit statutory deductions, including contributions to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying workers should not be denied benefits they are legally entitled to.
However, the President noted that there were some employers who had not complied with the Labour Day directive on the increase of minimum wage by 15 per cent, terming the under-payment of salaries as inhumane and illegal.
“It was directed in May 1 this year that minimum wage be increased by 15 per cent, but it has come to my notice that many firms have failed to comply with it,” Ruto said.
In addition, he condemned the employers who continue to give low salaries to their guards, saying it is illegal and inhumane to pay any Kenyan worker below the approved minimum wage.
“Nobody will pay their workers less than the minimum wage of 6,000 or 7,000. This is according to the laws of Kenya,” he added.
As an effort to compel the employers to comply with the laws, the President directed the Ministries of Labour and Interior to cooperate with the PSRA in carrying out inspection and ensuring that security firms comply with the laws.
He reiterated that all the private security firms operating in the country should operate legally and provide fair salary packages to their workers.
“Our partners in the private security sector must work with the regulator, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour to ensure all companies comply with the law. Paying at least the minimum wage is not optional,” he said.
The latest directive reinforces a government gazette notice issued about four years ago requiring private security officers to earn a minimum gross monthly salary of Sh30,000. However, many guards have continued to complain of low wages, delayed salaries and failure by employers to remit statutory deductions, raising concerns over widespread non-compliance within the industry.
