Ruto Reappoints Former Police Commander Adiel Nyange As Chair Of PSRA

President William Ruto has reappointed former Nyeri Police Commander Adiel Nyange as the Chairperson of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) for a three-year term.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 11(1)(a) of the Private Security Regulation Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, reappoint Adiel Nyange to be the Chairperson of the Private Security Regulatory Authority for a period of three (3) years, with effect from February 7, 2025,” read the official gazette notice.

Nyange previously served as the PSRA board chair for a brief period following the revocation of former chair Stephen Ng’ang’a’s appointment. His reappointment comes at a time when the authority is at the center of discussions regarding a directive that could grant greater powers to private security guards.

Under the Private Security Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2024, PSRA has proposed arming security guards stationed at critical infrastructure sites, freeing up police officers for other duties. These high-risk areas include public spaces with heavy foot traffic, shopping malls, cash-in-transit operations, maritime security, government institutions, and other locations with heightened security concerns.

Nyange is also expected to address the issue of non-compliance by private security firms regarding the mandatory minimum wage for guards, set at Ksh30,000. In June 2024, then-PSRA boss Fazul Mahamed issued a seven-day ultimatum for firms to comply or risk losing their operating licenses. However, months later, the Private Security Guards Union (PSGU) wrote to President Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, urging government intervention as many security firms continued to underpay guards despite collecting significant fees from clients.

With his extensive law enforcement experience, Nyange is expected to streamline PSRA’s operations and ensure full compliance with industry regulations.

Other Government Appointments

Other government appointments were also announced in the gazette notice dated February 7. In the Defence Ministry, Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya appointed L.G Nzavi, Col Yator, Robert Maweu Mutula, and Patricia Njau as members of the Kenya Defence Forces Pension Assessment Committee for a three-year term. In the Labour Ministry, CS Alfred Mutua appointed Joel K. Chebi as a member of the National Industrial Training Board.

In the Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation Ministry, CS Eric Murithi appointed Jael Jepchumba Kugun and Samuel Gitonga Mbui to the Hydrologists Registration Board. Meanwhile, in the Environment Ministry, CS Murithi also appointed Hannah Nyambura Ndungu as the chairperson of the Ministerial Audit Committee, with Patrick Mutisya Mbithi, Dorothy Chepngetich, Ololchike Spenser Sankale, and Timothy Munyole as members, and John Kariuki as secretary.

In the Lands Ministry, CS Alice Wahome appointed Daniel Maina Mukiri, David Nyangau Siriba, Kombo Mwero, Christopher Kinyua Tiras, Erastus Chege Mwangi, and Fredrick Ouma Oduor as members of the Land Surveyors’ Board for a two-year term. These appointments signal key leadership changes across various state agencies.