An executive member of the Kenya National Private Security Workers Union (KNPSWU) has directed security agencies and companies to ensure all guards wear a uniform for purposes of easy identification.
KNPSWU North Rift head Peter Odima on Sunday said some private security firms do not give their guards uniform making it impossible to distinguish them from thugs especially at night.
Speaking in Eldoret town after attending a KNPSWU meeting, Odima said unless the guards put on the uniform, they may end up being mistaken as criminals.
"We have recently registered a steady rise in crime rates in Eldoret and the neighbouring towns," Odima said.
"So how do we distinguish these people (guards) from criminals? If they get killed who is to be blamed. They need to dress in proper attire for easy identification."
Odima made the remarks three days after a private security officer in civilian clothes was murdered outside a shop he was guarding at Eldoret town's Central Business District by unknown people. The killers did not break into the shop to steal.
"If police find a security officer walking around a business premise at night without uniform, how do you expect them to know that he or she is a guard and not a thug?" he posed.