🔥 Trending President Ruto Orders Renaming of Private Security Roles, Citing Colonial Origin

President William Ruto has issued a significant directive concerning private security officers in Kenya, aiming to enhance their dignity, improve their welfare, and integrate them more formally into the national security framework. The core of this directive involves a change in terminology, a push for better wages, and a formal linkage with the National Police Service ²³⁵.

Renaming Private Security Personnel

One of the most prominent aspects of the directive is the order to cease using the terms "watchman" and "guard" for private security officers. President Ruto has instructed all government agencies to expunge these references, stating that they undermine the dignity of the profession ³⁴⁵. Instead, these individuals are to be officially referred to as "private security officers" ³⁴. This change was reportedly prompted by an appeal from a security guard to President Ruto, who argued that the new title would accord them the respect they deserve ⁴.

Enforcing Minimum Wage Increases

President Ruto has also called for stricter enforcement of labor laws, specifically targeting private security companies that have failed to implement a government-mandated 15% minimum wage increase ¹. This move is part of a broader effort to improve the welfare and working conditions of private security officers ⁷. There is also a push for a minimum wage of KSh 30,000 for these officers ⁷.

Integration with National Police Service

A key strategic element of Ruto's directive is the plan to establish a formal framework that links Kenya's 1.3 million private security officers with the National Police Service ⁸. This integration aims to create a more cohesive and comprehensive national security apparatus, leveraging the large number of private security personnel across the country ⁸.

Review of Regulations and Career Progression

The government intends to review existing regulations governing the private security sector. This review will focus on introducing clear career progression paths for officers, further improving their professional standing and opportunities within the industry ⁷.

In summary, President Ruto's directives, issued as of August 6, 2026, aim to elevate the status and professional recognition of private security officers in Kenya through dignity-affirming terminology, improved remuneration, and strategic integration into the national security infrastructure ^1234578.