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A recent government directive has stipulated that guests staying at hotels, accommodations, and lodging facilities must now surrender their identification documents for recording and temporary withholding during their stay.
This directive, issued by the Private Security Regulatory Authority in response to a surge in reported criminal activities, including murder cases, particularly within residential apartments under online booking platforms like Airbnb.
The statement from the authority outlines the requirements for security personnel at the entry of any premises or property within the jurisdiction of a private security service provider. Security guards or officers are mandated to request individuals to identify themselves, register their time of entrance and exit, and temporarily retain their identification documents. Additionally, security personnel must record the identification details of all individuals accessing the premises in a register, noting the time of entry and exit for each person.
To enhance security measures, a log of all vehicles, rickshaws, and motorcycles entering and departing from the facilities must be maintained. Security personnel are also tasked with ensuring that CCTV and security cameras are in proper working condition, recording footage up-to-date.
Furthermore, the directive emphasizes the need to maintain an updated Access Control Policy, strategically displayed at entry and exit points, and to keep a security occurrence book documenting daily significant incidents and notable events concerning the safety of residents and guests within the premises.
The regulator has clarified that the identification documents collected at entry points should be returned to the individuals at the point of exit and should only be used for identification purposes. Violations of the directive may result in penalties, including license cancellation, as outlined in the relevant laws.
This directive comes in the wake of a recent incident where the dismembered body of an unidentified woman was discovered at an Airbnb residence in Nairobi’s Roysambu area, following another murder case involving city socialite Starlet Wahu at a different Airbnb in South B a week earlier.
