Call for Private security officers to register in large numbers as voters ahead of next year’s Polls

The Kenya Private Security Employers Federation Eric Okeyo address the press in Kisumu today where Private Security Officers have been urged to register in large numbers during the ongoing enhanced mass Voter registration-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

By Dickson Odhiambo

October 7, 2021

Call for Private security officers to register in large numbers as voters ahead of next year’s Polls

THE Private security officers across the country have been urged to take advantage of the ongoing enhanced mass voter registration exercise being undertaken by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to register in large numbers ahead of next year's polls.

The Chairman of the Kenya National Private Security Workers Union {KNPSWU} General Secretary Isaac Andabwa says the union has many members who need to register as voters to participate in next year’s General Election slated for August.

Addressing the press in Kisumu today on the sidelines of a meeting with the Kenya Private Security Employers Federation and the Kenya National Private Security Workers Union, Andabwa said the private security workers across the country is estimated to be about 1.5 million.

He says the Union will greatly mobilize the private security officers across the country to register as voters and take part in the voting process during the said general election.

“We are appealing to the IEBC to take the Voter registration kits to the places where the private security officers as stationed so that they register as voters,” he says.

Andabwa says they will only rally behind Presidential Candidate in the next year’s polls who will have the interest of the private security workers at heart.

He at the same time says the will work with the Government of the day after the next polls regardless of who will be elected as the next Country’s Chief Executive Officer.

Andabwa says there should be a proper framework that promotes both employees and employers in the Industry as a whole.

He says the workers in the sector faces a number of challenges ranging from lack of basic salaries which needs to be addressed by the concerned.

He adds that the workers needs some training during the electioneering period so as to be well acquainted with issues of elections and know how to handle situations in case of lawlessness by some members of the Public.

The Kenya Private Security Employers Federation Eric Okeyo says as a sector it complement the Government Security agency.

He says they will definitely work with the Government that will be elected after the next year’s polls, adding that they will not take sides during the electioneering period.

He adds that the workers in the sector normally become the first victims whenever there is violence during the electioneering, adding that there should be a peaceful election come next year.