NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 16 – Private security guards on Thursday staged a protest in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) over poor pay and lack of work tools.
Led by their union leader Bernard Injendi, the workers lamented that they have been neglected and their employers have failed to implement the minimum wage agreement.
Injendi also accused the Director General of Private Security Regulatory Authority Fazul Mahamed of failing on his mandate, saying he hasn’t done anything to protect their interests.
“It is very painful that our employers are yet to implement the minimum wage, Mr. Fazul since we put him into that office in 2018 he hasn’t done anything for us and we want him to explain to us why,” Injendi stated.
On his part Didmus Nyongesa from Securex security said that they are in agreement with the new NSSF rates but want the President to first intervene and resolve their stand off.
“We fully support the President on the issue of NSSF but we want him to listen to grievances of security guards in this country and assist us get our minimum wage because our salary is meagre and we have a lot of responsibilities,” Nyongesa stated.
During the 2022 May Labor Day Celebrations Ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered a 12 percent rise on minimum monthly wages, an order which was to largely benefit low- carder workers such as cashiers, drivers, guards, cleaners, salespersons and property caretakers.
The 12 per cent increment for night security guards would see them earn Sh16,958.98 from Sh15,141.95.
The workers are however yet to enjoy the benefits as most employers are reported to have ignored the order and continued to pay their staff meagre salaries despite the harsh economic times.
