In the sixth edition of our breakthrough series, EP Wired is taking a closer look at executive protection in Kenya. We have interviewed two industry professionals and asked them to share their experiences working in the country. Here’s what they had to say.
What are the particular challenges of executive protection in your country?
Executive protection in Kenya is an extremely dynamic field, just as it is in any other part of the world. However, the industry is witnessing substantial growth as international training providers collaborate with local accredited providers to meet training demand. Work placement, then, becomes the next challenge after training.
Employers are unwilling to take the risk of hiring new faces on short-term contracts because the company’s reputation and future contracts are tied to past performance. Referrals, hence, become the mode of recruitment for short-term contracts. This is rooted in the lack of a strict local standard to ensure that only quality operators graduate from the respective courses.
A lack of appropriate policies specifically focused on the role has negatively affected the industry’s growth and hindered legislative collaboration with law enforcement agencies. – Stephen Karenju
What are the unexpected benefits of executive protection in your country?
In Kenya, executive protection has taught me that safety is not just about preventing harm, but about creating calm in environments that are often unpredictable. One unexpected benefit is how much executive protection becomes an early warning system. By moving with principals daily, observing patterns, listening to drivers, security staff, and even casual conversations, you begin to sense when something is “off” long before it becomes an incident.
Another benefit is the trust that develops. When a principal feels genuinely safe, they move differently, more confidently, more present, and less guarded. That trust allows them to engage meaningfully with people and communities without fear.
In a country like Kenya, where traffic, public gatherings, and spontaneous changes are part of daily life, executive protection also supports mental ease and continuity of work. For me, the most unexpected benefit has been realizing that good protection is often invisible when done right, nothing dramatic happens, and that in itself is success. – Speranza Kubai
What are the unique tools and tech you carry to help you work in your country?
In EP and, most of all, in my current role as a diplomatic protection agent, initiative is one of the most important tools I carry with me everywhere. The capability to adapt, learn, and solve problems as they arise is a common tool that separates the best in the field from the rest.
However, a good level of innovation pushes the initiative bar higher by bringing with me AirTags, depending on the client’s risk level, a tactical knife, a good tactical torch, a pen, and a short notebook. But the most invaluable tool I always have with me is probably the easiest to ignore: a Constant companion with all my emergency contacts.
A satellite phone with a compatible charger for remote locations, and to add an extra layer of emergency preparedness. I always want to make sure that clients have updated their emergency contacts on their phones, and any medical history is outlined on their devices as well. – Stephen Karenju
Can you share a memorable experience or case where your skills as a bodyguard were put to the test in your country?
I’m not a bodyguard in the traditional sense; I work as an Executive Protection Officer, so my role goes beyond just reacting to immediate threats. What really tests me is staying ahead of situations, anticipating risks, making decisions quickly, and coordinating with my team seamlessly. Every assignment challenges your awareness, judgment, and presence of mind.
Over time, you learn to read spaces, notice small changes, and adjust before a situation escalates. For me, the most important lesson has been that effective protection isn’t about action for its own sake; it’s about prevention, foresight, and calm under pressure. – Speranza Kubai
What are the most common types of threats or security concerns faced by clients in your country?
As you traverse the country, the threat landscape changes and evolves dynamically, as earlier stated. When in the city, just like any other city in the world, petty crime and phone snatching are the general threats to watch out for.
As you head towards the coastal regions, northeastern and northern Kenya, the threat shifts from petty crime to possible terror attacks. In these regions, extra caution, continuous real-time intelligence collection, and threat analysis are crucial to a successful operation.
In the eastern and rift valley regions, banditry becomes a common threat that requires additional layers of protection, often sourced from local law enforcement agencies. In summary, EP operations in Kenya pose various threats, including the obvious embarrassments to the client, e.g., tripping and falling, as well as the emerging trend of cyberbullying.
As an EP, important contacts with the authorities are an invaluable tool for daily operations, as they give your client confidence and reassurance that you can actually solve problems if and when they arise to a reasonable degree. Finally, operational fluidity and a clear understanding of current laws and regulations by both the government and the private security regulatory authority will keep you out of trouble.
Continuous training in auxiliary certifications that support your role as an executive protection officer is a lifelong investment, regardless of where you operate, and the same holds true in Kenya. – Stephen Karenju
What are some emerging trends or challenges in the field of private security and personal protection in your country?
Private security in Kenya is changing fast. Technology is becoming a bigger part of work, things like tracking, communication tools, and surveillance, but it’s clear that tech alone isn’t enough. The bigger challenge is making sure teams are consistently trained and professional, especially in environments that are unpredictable. Urban growth, traffic, and changing social dynamics all make movement and planning more complex.
At the same time, I see a lot of opportunity for the industry to grow and professionalize. For me, the work is about combining tools, training, and experience with judgment and intuition, so you’re always a step ahead without overthinking every move. – Speranza Kubai
For their participation in the series, EP Wired would like to thank Stephen Karenju and Speranza Kubai.
Find the previous series entries here: