The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has announced mandatory training for all bouncers, private bodyguards and crowd control personnel.

In a notice dated January 8, the authority's CEO Fazul Mahamed noted that the training would be a national exercise and include security personell protecting celebrities.

While delivering his remarks, Mahamed stated that the authority will also take the time to vet the security personnel and issue them will licences.

According to the authority's regulations, no one will be expected to provide security at entertainment joints as bouncers or bodyguards to celebrities if they have not been licensed.

"Sections 21 and 28 of the Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016 require that no person shall engage in the provision of private security services unless that person has been security vetted, registered and licensed in accordance with the Act.

"In view of the foregoing, the Government has commenced the mandatory nationwide security vetting, training and licensing of all bouncers, bodyguards, event stewards, door supervisors, event security, VIP protection, close protection, and crowd control security personnel," read the notice in part.

Further, all those affected by the notice were advised to attend a meeting organised by the Authority at the Sarova Stanley Hotel on Wednesday, January 17.

The meeting will be free of charge and will start at 8 am. However, those keen on attending the meeting have to make prior bookings.

However, the course content and timelines for the training were not specified in the statement.

According to the authority, the new directives aim at regulating the private security providers that have occasionally been in the spotlight over mishandling revellers.

In some instances, some of the security personnel have been accused of misusing firearms in the course of duty.

Notably, the notice barely comes days after bouncers at a Kilimani-based entertainment joint roughed up journalists during a raid conducted by officials from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).