Collaboration between public and private security in Kenya.

Abstract

The intention in this project is to look at the changed role that private security has begun to play in Kenya in many of the traditional public or state police spheres of operation irrespective of the lack of a formal framework for partnership policing. Additionally, it examines how co-operation in policing and crime prevention can be realized and made mutually beneficial to all role players within the broad framework of a public-private partnership. Police and private security in Kenya have been functioning in mutually exclusive manner in respect to the provision of security. It is evident there is a need to establish a formal collaborative relationship, as both have many common goals, and the private security industry provides a major protective role in Kenyan society. The study investigates the reality of collaboration between the police and the private security in Kenya. The study is framed upon the theoretical analysis of the concept of security from the perspective of collective good theory. It contends that public goods have features of being non-excludable and non- rival in consumption. They have benefits that cannot be confined to a single buyer. Once provided, many people enjoy them for free. Security is such a good. The research used qualitative approach in collecting and analyzing data. Both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data was collected by use of questionnaire and interview schedule. Primary data was collected in Nairobi which was purposely sampled for its large concentration of crime and security providers, both public and private. The data was analyzed qualitatively in descriptive form. The study established that collaboration exists between the public and the private security mostly in areas of common protection of public gatherings, transport and security of money, information exchange, and private security handing over suspected criminals to the police. However, conditions for effective cooperation are not yet well developed and needed changes are still in progress. Most of the collaboration was found to be ad hoc and at the street level where patrol officers, detectives and crowd controllers have regular contact. There is optimism that the current National Police Service Bills, 2011 will ensure continuous and sustainable police reforms that will consider police collaborating with the private security at the executive level.