Security firm transforming protection services, professionalism among stewards

Some foreign nationals travelling to Kenya for work seek private services for airport transfers and further protection as they run errands across urban cities in Kenya. 

Diriye Security and Consultancy Services is among the firms that have been providing protection services to private citizens. 

Mustafa Mohammed, the Director of Diriye Security Services has been in the security industry for over 15 years. He banks on transforming the industry to not only provide reliable services that certifies clients but to also empower security providers. 

The company is keen on providing close protection security services, executive secure transfers and stewards for events such as weddings, graduations and other celebrations. 

Mohammed notes that there have been advancements in the security sector as providers seek to make VIP persons and communities around them more comfortable. He notes that the sector has adopted the name ‘stewards’ instead of bouncers, to bridge the relations between security providers and communities around them. 

According to Mohammed, his team consists of experienced security providers as they have served in institutions such as the police service and military. 

“I have a clique of ex-police and ex-military officers who have mastered close protection. They are the ones who are training my people. I have 60-70 stewards under me who come from all security backgrounds and we also train them,” he says. 

The firm also targets form four leavers and has a high preference to persons trained under the National Youth Service (NYS). It seeks to provide jobs for this category of youth among other persons with a background in the security field. 

“Muscle is not a qualification for stewards. We look at the fitness of the officer, his health…weight… height,” Mohammed says. 

The security expert also notes the importance of including women in providing security services and training men to handle female clients professionally. 

“When deploying 20 stewards, 3 or more must be women. You might get a female VIP client who needs assistance. For men providing security to female VIPs, we train them on special codes of conduct.”

Mohammed also explains the skills provided to stewards and other VIP security, to ensure they can handle high-level clients efficiently. 

“We train them on a professional code of conduct, how to handle people, VIPs, and movement of motor vehicles. We teach them how to protect themselves and also control crowds,” he states, adding that those providing security services to celebrities are well-trained in handling the attention that comes with such clients. 

The security firm also works closely with police officers, who are highly needed during big events such as concerts and other private parties. 

“When doing armed guarding, we need backup from local police. Our stewards are not armed. “Sometimes we get very rude people, idle people who can be incontrollable,” he says. 

The firm also offers Security consultancy services, Risk Assessment, security equipment supply, security training, and private investigations. In private investigations, they work with ex-officers and also involve lawyers to offer legal advice.