NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 16 – Anyone seeking accommodation in AirBnBs, lodgings, and guesthouses in Kenya will now be required to deposit their identification documents upon entry temporarily.
This new policy is a response to the increased security concerns including cases of murder, within residential properties affiliated with online accommodation platforms.
Within the past week, two women have been found murdered in a short stay residential house in Nairobi after checking in with men for overnight stays. Airbnb company has said the property where the incident occurred is not registered with them.
It started with popular socialite Starlet Wahu whose body was discovered in an AirBnB in South B before a man he had checked in with was arrested and linked to serial murders. He is in custody pending formal charges in court after police were allowed more time to complete investigations.
And on Sunday, the dismembered body of another woman was found in an Airbnb in Roysambu. A man who had checked in with her is said to have been seen escaping in blood-stained clothes in what raised the alarm on Sunday.
Police said the woman’s chopped-up body parts were later found packed in polythene bags ready for disposal, but the head was missing, prompting a search for the man who was still at large by Tuesday.
In response to these escalating incidents, the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PRSA) has now issued a directive that compels all private security providers to temporarily retain the identification documents of individuals accessing premises or properties under their supervision once they have been identified, with details, including the time of entry and exit, meticulously documented.
This directive, to Managers of Private Security Companies, Private Security Service Providers, and individual Private Security Officers (Security Guards), aims to address the rising security concerns.
Fazul Mahamed, who heads the Private Security Regulatory Authority emphasized the importance of accurately recording the identification details of all individuals gaining access to such premises, saying it aligns with Section 48 of the Private Security Regulation Act.
This section empowers private security personnel stationed at property entrances to demand identification, record entry and exit times, and temporarily retain identification documents.
“The primary objective of this directive is to deter criminal activities within these premises and enhance the safety of residents and guests,” Mahamed said in a statement.
In addition to the identification documentation policy, private security agents have also been instructed to maintain an up-to-date and accurate log of all vehicles or motorcycles entering or departing from facilities within their jurisdiction.
They are also required to ensure that CCTV and security cameras are in proper working condition and that footage is continuously recorded while maintaining an updated Access Control Policy.
“They must also keep a security occurrence book to record daily significant incidents and notable events concerning the safety of residents and customers,” he said.
