Private Security Companies in Kenya and the Impact of Chinese Actors

This paper examines the development and impact of Chinese Private Security Companies (PSCs) in Kenya. Adopting a qualitative methodology approach, study begins with an extensive literature review, followed by findings from month fieldwork conducted Nairobi, The first part illustrates how private security market is booming, thanks to increase global supply demand. Then, analysis turns legal, policy, governance, oversight issues that contracting raises both China Summarizing field interviews different stakeholders, we review three case studies evaluate whether current business models used PSCs are sustainable, what extent actors have penetrated local market. We conclude that, as compared unprecedented pace growth China’s investment Africa, engagement overseas protection far behind other sectors. find failure hold larger share due fierce competition among investors’ ignorance about needs. While Western PSCs’ sophisticated solutions squeezed out competition, (both state-owned private-owned) lack awareness has meant their budgets dry up very quickly. In addition trade presence policymakers should develop more integral regulatory framework emphasizing guaranteed systemic management emergency response processes.