GIVING A FACE TO PRIVATE SECURITY IN KENYA

Promoting Dignity, Visibility and Rights for Private Security Guards in Kenya

From 22 to 30 April 2025, ICoCA carried out a series of impactful engagements in Kenya as part of its ongoing efforts to raise standards and awareness in the private security sector. The visit focused on improving working conditions for security personnel, strengthening community trust and supporting local organisations through capacity-building.

A Visual Exploration of Guards’ Daily Lives

The main purpose of the trip was the production of a powerful photographic reportage documenting the everyday realities of private security guards. Led in partnership with renowned photographer Ben Buckland, the project set out to humanise the often-invisible workforce that protects homes, offices and public spaces across the country.

This visual storytelling initiative lies at the heart of ICoCA’s 2024-2030 strategy to improve working conditions in private security. By capturing the daily lives of guards both on and off duty, the project seeks to shed light on the challenges they face, the environments in which they operate and the quiet dignity of their work — too often overlooked despite the vital role they play in public safety.

Over several days, the team followed a number of guards through their routines, documenting their shifts, commutes and family life. The resulting visual narrative offers a grounded, relatable perspective that reflects not only the personal experiences of guards, but also the broader social contexts in which they live and work.

The goal of the reportage is twofold: to raise awareness of the working conditions in the sector and to deepen public understanding of the people behind the uniforms. The visuals will be shared across platforms to support advocacy efforts and promote more responsible, rights-respecting private security practices.

Building Local Capacity Through Photography

To complement the photographic project, ICoCA hosted a photography workshop for Nairobi-based civil society organisations (CSOs), also led by Ben Buckland. The session focused on building local capacity to capture and communicate visual stories related to private security. Participants explored both technical and ethical dimensions of photography, including lighting, composition, equipment, consent and trauma-informed storytelling.

By equipping CSOs with these skills, ICoCA aims to enhance local monitoring efforts, amplify community voices and strengthen civil society engagement in security sector oversight. The workshop also gave ICoCA valuable insights into the Kenyan private security landscape, its challenges and opportunities, reinforcing the importance of working in close partnership with communities on the ground.

Supporting Community-Based Changes

In parallel, ICoCA also joined a community-based training session for private security guards, organised in partnership with the Kilimani Project Foundation (KPF) and the Institute of Professional Security Studies (IPSS). Based in Nairobi’s Kilimani neighbourhood, KPF is a community-driven organisation working to improve safety and security through grassroots initiatives that build trust between citizens and security providers.

Together with ICoCA, KPF is delivering an ambitious programme to train 200 guards from the Kilimani area in professionalism, self-discipline and self-defence. The initiative also includes efforts to formalise employment contracts with six local security companies, provide mental health and wellness support, and launch a creative two-month advocacy campaign celebrating the essential role of private security guards within the community.

Too often, private security guards face low job security, inadequate mental health support and exploitative conditions. This initiative seeks to change that — not only by improving protections for guards in Kilimani, but also by creating a model that can be replicated in other communities across Kenya.

By working with local communities, private security providers, clients and civil society, ICoCA seeks to promote a more ethical and accountable private security sector that upholds the rights and dignity of those who serve on the front lines of public safety.

Stay tuned for the full release of the photographic reportage!