Evaluating the Effects of Commercialized Security on National Security in Nairobi County, Kenya
Loading...
Date
2020
Authors
Mutonyi, Gerald Peter
Merecia, Ann Sirera
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Traektoriâ Nauki = Path of Science
Abstract
The growth and expansion of commercialized security markets are as a
result of deficiencies in the ability of nations to effectively deliver security-related
services. Therefore, a range of players is explicitly looked upon to supplement the
supply of security services. Perhaps, the most important of these players are the
commercial security firms, which have developed and grown expansively. These
firms provide some aspect of security/policing services to their fee-paying
consumers aimed at protecting the people and their physical assets, as opposed to
public security which is a public good. The commercialized security industry has
grown and expanded in Nairobi, Kenya, and offers a range of security services.
Despite this development, few studies have examined the effects of these services
on national security in Nairobi, Kenya. Using the Security Governance theory and
Network Analysis theory, this study sought to understand the subject matter.
The study took on a cross-sectional survey design and was carried out in Nairobi
with the adult residents as the target population. A multistage sampling technique
was employed to obtain the wards to be studied, whereas those who purchase or
manage commercial security services for their organizations and management of
the commercial security firms were purposively sampled, the general public and the
security guards were systematically sampled. Questionnaires, scheduled interviews,
and structured observation were used to collect data. The Statistical Package for
Social Sciences (SPSS version 25, 2017) was used in data management and
analysis. In the analysis, descriptive statistics used included percentages and
frequency distribution tables. These descriptive statistics were used to summarize
variables into thematic areas and to convey the characteristics of key variables.
Inferential statistics used was Multiple Regression analysis to establish
relationships, provide predictions, and in concluding.
The results demonstrated that the study identified five effects with each having a
unique variance on national security: Visible presence that discourages criminal
activities (B = .372, β = .383, P=.001), detection of criminal and harmful activities by
the electronic devices (B=.250, β = .257, P = .001), intervention in stopping crime
and harm (B = .213, β=.194, P = .001), intelligence on criminal activities through
surveillance (B = .176, β= .159, P = .001) and creating a culture of security and crime
awareness (B = .086, β = .076, P = .024). Together, both were significant predictors
of national security F(5,368) = 111.42, p ˂ .001, R2
= .231.
The study concluded that the effects of commercialized security on national
security bring to fore the huge responsibility the industry is endowed with.
Consequently, there should be favorable mechanisms in the country that can
oversee the continuous development of the industry. The favorable mechanisms
can only be realized through the consultation of the stakeholders: the commercial
security industry, the citizens, and the state. Thus the study recommended that the
Private Security Regulation Authority needs to start implementing some of the
requirements that are in the PSRA No. 13 of 2016, which are meant to streamline the
industry in terms of the training of the security guards, remunerations of the security
guards, minimum requirements for recruitment and working environments. This is
so that the country and citizens can benefit from the basis of which the authority was formed. It is expected that the findings of this research will provide data that
can be used to inform policy and practice amongst commercial security providers to
increase their impact on national security in Kenya. The data can also stimulate the
academic community towards more research in the field
Description
A research article published in Traektoriâ Nauki = Path of Science
Keywords
Commercial Security, Commercial Security Services, Security, National Security
Citation
Peter, M. G., & Sirera, M. A. (2020). Evaluating the Effects of Commercialized Security on National Security in Nairobi County, Kenya. Path of Science, 6(5), 2001-2022.