Challenges Facing the Provision of Security Services by Private Security Firms; A Study of Juja Town, Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

Security is fundamental in all societies. It ensures that society thrives due to the assurance of the safety of lives and property. It is through security that people can invest in the community and develop the area. It is also worth noting that safety and security lie at the heart of the prosperity of any nation. Every citizen wants to feel secure and protected from any injury or risk. However, today security is faced with challenges in diverse aspects of people’s daily lives, and trust lies in the institutions mandated to keep people safe. In this new reality, governments are overstretched by providing security to the details of their citizen’s endeavours. That is why private securities are contracted to provide the needed security to fill the gaps. It is essential to underscore private security’s role in society further. The analysis directs us to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a theory that Abraham Maslow advanced in 1943. The theory opines that as people meet their basic needs, they tend to have an insatiable desire to ensure their satisfaction with higher needs concerning the hierarchy, as proposed by Maslow. Security is increasingly becoming a priority to many as time goes on. Private security has become popular today due to its flexibility and ability to cater to personalized demands. However, the sector faces many challenges, including mistrust from national law enforcement. The research considers the town of Juja in Kiambu County, Kenya, to highlight the challenges faced by private security apparatus in Kenya. The challenges discovered range from sectorial to societal. Proper reforms would be needed to improve the efficiency of private security in Kenya. Despite the challenges, years of operation have witnessed growth in the sector