Bouncers: We aren't criminals, just big men playing big roles

Those who frequently go to clubs for drinks and merrymaking and then end up misbehaving understand how humiliating to be thrown out by the bouncers.

These are the heavily built fellows who are trained to handle security situations not only in clubs but also tasked to protect VIP's, celebrities, and other sensitive areas.

With time, the name bouncer has been associated with violence and mean-looking individuals with bulging muscles.

To change the description a new team known as Aegis Stewards Association which comprises about 20,000 bouncers in the country has come out to sanitise the name and professionalise their trade.

The Association has further said it is time to drop the name 'Bouncers' since it has been associated with undesirable images.

Brian Omondi Ongore who is the association's chairman said the group was formed to unite what was formerly known as bouncers.

"We are trying to do away with the name to a polished one because bouncers and men in black have been used in a bad way," Ongore explained during a meeting bringing together the members in Nairobi.

Private security regulatory authority

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"We have come together to see how we can partner with the government to ensure that our people have their rights and needs and their place in society is properly fitted," the chairman explained. The association which falls under private security regulatory authority is crafting a curriculum that will help them come up with specific courses for their members.

"We already have a syllabus but it is a general thing, what we are creating is for our members because we have specific areas," Ongore explained.

The course will have a package that will train members on electrical surveillance, fire safety, learn how to defend themselves and clients, a bit of PR, and close combat.

"Our members are no longer the force that was using chest and unnecessary vigor, we are trying to give a PR approach to the security industry," the chairman added.

At the same time, the team noted that it was unfair that some members were paid as low as Sh3,000 per day yet others earn up to Sh250,000 per day depending on the task.

For this reason, they have resolved to draft suitable documents that will be shared with stakeholders and government institutions so that salaries can be harmonised and ensure members lead meaningful lives.

"From next year we don't want to see hooligans acting as stewards and when things go bad will spoil our name, there are those who are feeding their families through this job," he said.

"Our aim is to make the industry noble so that people can survive on it, even those in school will want to join it. That is why we are calling on the government to help us to sanitize the government,"The association has also introduced a special accreditation card that will help to identify genuine members across the country.