Security guards working under PS Security Limited in Kikuyu Town, Kiambu County, say they are facing serious exploitation marked by very low pay, delayed salaries, and extremely long working hours that have made daily life unbearable.
The guards say the conditions they work under do not match the risks they face or the cost of living in the areas where they are deployed, and they are now appealing for urgent intervention from labour authorities.
The guards describe earning as little as Ksh 8,000 per month, especially for night shifts. They say this amount is far too low for anyone living and working in urban and peri-urban areas such as Kikuyu and Nairobi. Rent alone consumes a large portion of this pay, leaving little or nothing for food, transport, school fees, or medical needs.
Guards say the situation is worse at night, where they are expected to stay alert and protect property despite facing security risks and personal danger.
Another major concern raised by the guards is the work schedule. According to their accounts, guards are required to work for 30 consecutive days or 30 consecutive nights without any off days. They say this routine leaves them physically exhausted and mentally drained.
Despite the fatigue, they are still expected to perform their duties perfectly, guarding homes, businesses, and construction sites without mistakes.
Guards say such long stretches without rest affect their health and safety, as well as the safety of the properties they protect.
Salary delays are described as one of the most painful issues. Several guards say they have worked for months without receiving their pay. Some report working for two, three, or even more months without being paid a single shilling.
During this time, they say they are forced to borrow money, fall into debt, or skip basic needs. Many describe being unable to pay rent, feed their families, or send money home.
They say living in Kiambu or Nairobi without a salary quickly becomes unbearable.
PS Security Limited operates a 24-hour office in Kikuyu Town, offering services such as manned guarding, dog handling, CCTV and alarm monitoring, electric fencing, razor wire installation, and VIP protection across Kiambu and Nairobi. Because of this visibility, the company attracts many job seekers.
Guards say recruitment happens often, mainly targeting Kikuyu Town and nearby areas. Applicants are required to submit KCSE certificates, national IDs, and handwritten applications.
However, some guards claim that personal documents are sometimes retained, leaving them stuck when salary delays occur and they want to leave.
Under Kenyan law, private security firms are regulated by the Private Security Regulatory Authority, and labour laws set the monthly wage for guards in Nairobi and its surroundings at about Ksh 30,000. This figure is meant to reflect the high cost of living and the risks involved in security work.
The guards say what they are paid falls far below this standard, raising serious questions about compliance with the law.
The guards are now calling on the Private Security Regulatory Authority, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, and Kiambu County labour officers to investigate PS Security Limited and inspect its working conditions.
One guard summed up the frustration in the following words, which reflect the shared pain and anger among many workers:
“Hello Cyprian. I have an issue with a certain security firm known as PS Security Limited operating in Kikuyu Town, Kiambu County, and Nairobi. This company offers its security guards wages as low as Ksh 8,000 per month. Just imagine Ksh 8,000 for a night shift guard who is risking his life every day. To make matters worse, there are no off days. Guards work for 30 consecutive days or 30 consecutive nights, and at the end of it all, payment does not come through. One can work for a month, two months, three, four or even five months without receiving a single shilling. Life in Kiambu or Nairobi without a salary is extremely hard. It is a tough situation. Many guards feel exploited and frustrated. This company should be dissolved with immediate effect, as it is being described as a wash-wash scheme where guards’ IDs are hidden or withheld.”
The guards say they are no longer asking for favors but for fairness, dignity, and enforcement of the law that is meant to protect them.
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