You may build a fort, but security begins with the man or woman at the door

Buildings all over the country are under the surveillance of security guards, and accessing them requires one to go through some form of “security checks”.

With the current realities of Al-Shabaab and other terrorism gangs, nobody wants to take any chances over their security.

Before the terrorism threats, Kenyans used to gain entry into all buildings with ease. Not any more. Today metal detectors are commonplace, although I am never sure of the effectiveness of these gadgets.

However, even with the increased surveillance, Kenyans are not any safer. The Westgate Mall incident raises many questions about the effectiveness of the so-called security guards.

Is it a case of our security guards being ill-trained or are they conspiring with the criminals? If a place like Westgate can be attacked in broad daylight, then how safe are remote areas in the countryside?

FIRST SUSPECT

Whenever there are cases of theft or robbery, the first suspects are always the security guards. On a number of occasions, it has been found that bank robberies were committed with the full knowledge of security guards.

The many cases of drugs being sneaked into our schools have the signature of the school guards on them. It has, therefore, become difficult to trust guards with our security simply because they have become accomplices in criminal activities, yet they are employed to secure our valuables.

As a matter of fact, many security guards collaborate with criminals to rob their employers of the very valuables they are employed to protect.

Before condemning these security guards, let us consciously examine a number of facts about the nature of their work. To start with, they do the most risky job without sufficient preparation.

They spend the night in the cold, where criminals lurk, with just a bow and several arrows. The criminals they are employed to keep at bay use sophisticated weapons, yet our watchmen are only armed with a torch!

Second, the security guards are overworked and underpaid. The amount of money they earn always puts them in the way of temptation.

Some of our security guards protect property that is worth millions of shillings yet they earns less than Sh10,000 at the end of the month. What will keep these guards from falling into temptation and stealing from their masters?

THANKLESS JOB

Third, a watchman’s job is perceived to be demeaning. As a result, no security guard is inspired or motivated. It is a thankless job where everybody treats you like a beggar.

So, when an opportunity to strike gold arises, they are tempted to aid the criminals.

Fourth, this career attracts low-calibre people. Most security guards have no qualifications.

Others are people who have retired from the forces.

Their advanced age does not make them swift in matters security. They are just there to while away old age. Consequently, our security becomes compromised.

Ashford Kimani teaches at a private school in Nairobi County.