Most people choose a security company on price and a quick conversation. That is how many end up with guards who are tired, untrained, and unsupervised, and who are therefore a weak link instead of a safeguard.
A few careful checks before you sign will tell you a great deal about whether a company is serious.
1. Check registration and licensing
Private security in Kenya is a regulated industry. Ask any company you are considering to show you its registration and the licences relevant to the services you want. A genuine firm will produce them readily. If they hesitate or deflect, treat that as an answer.
2. Look at how they treat their guards
This matters more than most clients realise. Guards who are underpaid, overworked, or treated badly are less alert, less loyal, and easier to bribe or pressure.
Ask about:
- Shift lengths and rest. Long, repeated shifts with no rest produce exhausted guards.
- Pay and statutory contributions. Are they paid on time and properly?
- Equipment. Do guards have uniforms, ID, radios, torches, and basic protective gear?
- Welfare and conduct. Is there a clear process for concerns and discipline?
Companies that look after their people usually look after their clients.
3. Ask about training
Ask what training guards receive when they join and how often it is refreshed. Look for practical topics: access control, observation and reporting, emergency procedures, first aid, fire response, and conduct. Ask who delivers the training and how it is recorded.
4. Find out how they are supervised
Guards left unsupervised tend to slip. Ask:
- Who supervises the guards on my site, and how often do they visit?
- Do supervisors make unannounced checks, including at night?
- Is there a control room or call-in system to verify guards are alert and on post?
- How are incidents recorded and reported to me?
A company with strong supervision can show you how it works. One without will give you general assurances.
5. Test the response capability
Security is only as good as the response behind it. Ask:
- If my guard raises an alarm, who responds, and how quickly?
- Do you have patrol or response vehicles, and where are they based?
- What is the escalation process if the situation is serious?
- How do you coordinate with the police?
Response time claims are only meaningful if they are specific and the company can explain how it keeps to them.
6. Review insurance
Ask for evidence of insurance covering the company, its personnel, and third-party liability. If a guard is injured on your property, or a client’s property is damaged, you want to know who is responsible.
7. Read the contract carefully
Check the scope, shift patterns, number of guards, supervision terms, reporting, response commitments, fees, and how you can end the arrangement. Be cautious of contracts that are vague about what you are actually getting.
8. Ask for references and visit
Ask for references from current clients where possible. Visit the company’s office or control room. If you can, arrange to see a site it already protects. How a company presents itself on its home ground tells you a lot.
Red flags
- The lowest price by far. Cheap contracts often mean underpaid guards and cut corners.
- Reluctance to show registration, insurance, or references.
- No uniforms, ID, or radios. Guards should be identifiable and able to communicate.
- Guards who seem exhausted or underprepared when you meet them.
- No clear supervision or reporting structure.
- Big promises of “100% security”. No honest provider can guarantee this.
- Pressure to sign quickly.
A simple test
Visit a site the company protects at an unexpected hour, such as late at night or early morning. Is the guard alert? Properly equipped? Do they know what to do? That brief visit often reveals more than a presentation.
Choose a partner, not a vendor
The best security companies ask about you first. They want to understand your risks, your property, and your routines before proposing anything. That is a sign they plan to protect you, not simply fill a post.
If you would like to speak privately about your requirements, request a confidential briefing. You can also see the full range of services we offer.
FAQ
Is a bigger security company always better?
Not necessarily. What matters is training, supervision, response capability, and how the company treats its people. Size helps only if those things are strong.
How often should I review my security provider?
Regularly. Ask for periodic reports, meet your supervisor, and make occasional unannounced checks. A good provider welcomes this.
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