On 6^th August 2022, the Mkenya Daima Initiative and the KEPSA Security Sector Board held a stakeholder meeting with private sector security at Serena Hotel, Nairobi. The forum deliberated on election readiness ahead of the general election. 

"Today's function is critical because of the presence of key stakeholders in the security sector. Safety and security are the main goals for today's event. There's a need to interrogate how ready we are," said Ms Martha Cheruto - KEPSA Deputy CEO – Foundation in her welcoming remarks. She added that the event was meant to question the preparedness of the security stakeholders in the next elections. 

Ms Annette Kimitei - Chair, KEPSA Security Sector Board acknowledged that almost all security industry associations were represented in the meeting. She noted that the objective was to interrogate peacebuilding and preparedness in the forthcoming elections while adding that the security industry players are an army of peacemakers. "Today's overview is based on voting, championing for peace, election preparedness plans and cooperation and coordination with key players," she noted. 

Speaking on Elections situational assessment and scenarios, Mr Declan Galvin - Chair, Election Preparedness Subsector, Mkenya Daima Steering Committee noted that key priority areas of discussion included identification of various security associations, security companies, common operating picture, expansion on the scope of Mkenya Daima and all it entails, the role of private security in electoral preparedness and closing the gaps.

In his remarks, Dr Vimal Shah - Chair, Mkenya Daima Steering Committee insisted that without unity, it will be hard to achieve most of the objectives while revealing that many milestones have been achieved by coming together through a multi-stakeholder forum and speaking truth to power. "There's a need for unity between the security industry key players and Mkenya Daima to achieve the objectives of the nation's cross-cutting security issues," he noted.

Mr Dominic Kisavi - Head of Election Security Secretariat, National Police Service reminded the forum that there's a need to mitigate any attempts by any person to cause violence by identifying the grey areas and preparing the security agencies adequately. There's a need to involve the stakeholders, notably the private security companies which employ close to 1.2 million persons. "We are deploying a quick response team across the country to mitigate election-related issues. We have been committed to addressing terrorism threats. We want you to become our eyes," he added.

Speaking on the Role of Private Security in Election Preparedness, Mr Cosmas Mutava - Vice Chair, KEPSA Security Sector Board noted that the 1.2 million people employed by private security companies have been trained to cater for the three facets of security, which are; the security of oneself, other people and property. Mr Mutava also noted that training, patrols, and planning together are useful. Private security firms play a key role in elections. 

Outcomes and Way forward:

• The private sector needs to remind all the 1.2 million employees of the obligations and commitment to peaceful elections; 
• Private security companies to allow their staff to exercise their constitutional right to vote. 
• There’s need to review and update the election preparedness plan. 
• Partnership and coordination between police and stakeholders are critical for peace
• Peace messaging should be efficient and effective, addressing other challenges including but not limited to mental health issues, SGBV, crime etc.; 
• Collaboration is key especially between the Office of the Data Protection Commission to address matters to do with data collection.