Strategies adopted by private security firms to deal with crime in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

When strategic managers constantly analyze their competitive environment, they understand their transient business situations in changing environments. With the appraised knowledge they are able to locate and establish good competitive positions since, against threats they are able to take advantage of available opportunities to gain and sustain competitive advantage. Evaluation of the competitive environment may well be approached through application of strategic management theories such as the resource based view, the industrial organization view and the knowledge based view, among many others developed to assist in understanding the forces of competition in the business arena and hence come up with correct strategies which if adopted are capable of propelling organizations to better business positions. The purpose of this study was to assess the types of security threats prevalent in Nairobi County, and strategies adopted by private security firms in Nairobi County in countering the crimes. Possible measures to be taken into consideration to address deficiencies were also considered. The study targeted sample firms of all sizes and adopted a survey research design. Respondents were drawn from management cadre tasked with strategy formulation and implementation. Data collection was by questionnaires and the completed instruments were analyzed by statistical descriptive techniques. The study found a mismatch existing between crime prevalence and strategies adopted by private security companies. While vandalism was the highest reported crime, followed closely by theft, burglary and robbery, organized crime, gang attacks, guns and knife attacks were also significant. Vehicle theft and terrorism related crimes were moderately reported. On the other hand the most adopted strategy by private security companies was liaison with state security agents, followed by improved levels of vigilance, revised Standard Operation Procedures, additional training, use/additional technology, employment of additional personnel, pre-emptive techniques and culture change. Through the findings, the study proposed a revision of strategies adopted, prioritizing first on constant environmental analysis before coming up with requisite strategies to adopt in the face of crime growth. This was seen as the way to turn private security firms from being reactive but preemptive in the face of growing crime.