Ruto Orders End to ‘Watchmen’ Title Officially
President William Ruto has instructed every government institution, public office and employer to eliminate the word “watchmen” from official records and replace it with the designation “private security officers.”
The directive was issued on Thursday while he addressed private security personnel at State House in Nairobi. He further announced that existing laws regulating the sector would be amended so the new title receives formal legal recognition.
Speaking directly to the officers, the president emphasised the dignity and importance of their contribution to public safety. “I have directed all government offices and public offices to expunge the use of the word ‘watchmen’ so that they can use the name ‘private security officers,’” he stated. The change is intended to reflect the professional nature of the work performed by these men and women across the country.
In the same address Ruto ordered employers, the Private Security Regulatory Authority and relevant ministries to design a clear career-progression structure for private security officers. He also called for a coordinated framework, to be led by Inspector General Douglas Kanja, the regulatory authority and his own office, that would strengthen joint policing and security cooperation between private officers and national police services. “We have also agreed that you do important work in policing and ensuring there is security, a role that is no different from the work done by the police and other security officers. We will develop a framework for cooperation between the police and private security officers to ensure there is better security across the country,” he explained.
The president further directed stakeholders to produce a single, harmonised training curriculum for all private security officers. The standardised programme is expected to remove inconsistencies, raise professional standards and avoid unnecessary overlap in responsibilities. By creating uniform training pathways, authorities hope to elevate the overall quality and reliability of private security services nationwide.
Turning to welfare concerns, Ruto placed employers who have not yet implemented the minimum-wage increase on formal notice. He reminded them of his Labour Day instruction that wages must rise by at least fifteen per cent and warned that some firms continue to pay as little as six thousand shillings. “I directed that the minimum wage be increased by at least 15 per cent during the Labour Day celebrations. However, I am informed that some companies are yet to implement the directive, while others are still paying as low as Ksh6,000. I want to put you on notice that our laws must be followed because this is against the Constitution,” he declared, tasking the Interior and Labour ministries together with regulators to enforce immediate compliance.
