Guards send 'thank you' note to Ruto over salary raise

Kenya National Private Security Workers Union Secretary General Isaac Andabwa issued a guard with a badge in Nairobi on Thursday, November 18, 2023. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Private security guards on Friday delivered an appreciation message to President William Ruto following the move to increase their minimum salaries to Sh30,000.

Kenya Private Security Workers Union Secretary General Isaac Andabwa expressed gratitude to the Kenya Kwanza government, saying the move will go a long way in elevating the livelihoods of security workers.

"We are appreciating the intervention of the president in our general welfare. Security guards have experienced problems in this country. We have been regarded as second-hand citizens, we have had several presidents but it is him (Ruto) who has heard our cries," Andabwa said.

He spoke on Friday in Nairobi when he led the stakeholders in the sector in delivering an appreciation letter to the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) Director General Fazul Mohamed and later to the Office of the President.

"We have been misused and exploited and we have been slaves within our own country," Andabwa said, promising to rally the security guards in support of the government.

Early this week, the government capped the minimum gross pay for the guards at Sh30,000.