Why former top cop continues to make security his business

Pada Security managing director David Kiiru. FILE 

By STELLAR MURUMBA

In Summary

• From a humble beginning, Mr Kiiru affirms that he has built a strong command and vigilance centre along the Nairobi-Naivasha highway with wide communication reach on radio and alarm systems.

David Kiiru, Managing Director at Pada Security, entered the private security sector in 1993 after calling it quits from the CID Training School, his former working place. This was after moving ranks from being the DCIO Mombasa Urban since 1986.

Born in 1949 in Githunguri, Kiambu County, Mr Kiiru, 67, was introduced to the Police Force “unwillingly” while in his latter secondary school years at Kagumo High School.

This was when the Kenya Police Cadet training programme was launched at his school, leading him to his first engagement with the police. He was only 19 years old. “I did not want to be a policeman then but if you cut into me now all you will see is security,” says Mr Kiiru in jest.

“I underwent the programme while in my third and fourth year in high school.”

His first attempt to enter the force was thwarted because of his short stature

Later in 1973, he was recruited into the force after a year of tarmacking and walking tens of kilometres from Githunguri to Nairobi’s Industrial Area in search of a job.

He was initially posted to Kakamega as a police constable at the age of 23.
“I worked very hard and rose through the ranks to position of chief inspector and to superintendent of police and by 1985, I had undergone several investigative courses.

“But I wanted to serve Kenyans in my own capacity as a security expert,” he said.
With savings of less than Sh100,000, Mr Kiiru registered Pada Private Investigators Ltd. a private investigations firm.

He did not want to go into business, as is the norm for many retirees. “I was passionate about fighting corruption but what I found out here was a total mess. I was not prepared for it.”

In 1994, he diversified into providing security guards, alarm systems and security dogs due to rising demand for the services.

With a small office opposite Jeevanjee Gardens in Nairobi, Mr Kiiru started with four guards. His close friends who needed home security were among his first clients. He also employed a supervisor to help him out.

Humble beginning

He would be paid Sh6,000 per month for one guard. “I would pay a guard Sh3,000, with the remaining amount channelled to the guard’s insurance, supervisor’s salary and my own profit. But now Pada Security takes no less than Sh30,000 per guard,” he said.

From a humble beginning, Mr Kiiru affirms that he has built a strong command and vigilance centre along the Nairobi-Naivasha highway with wide communication reach on radio and alarm systems.

His firm, with a turnover of over Sh100 million now boasts 700 guards (20 per cent being elite ex-servicemen) forming a security network of 10 branches spread across Kenya. Pada Security has presence in Nairobi, Eastern, Central, Kajiado, Rift Valley and Mount Kenya regions. They are soon spreading to western and the East African community countries starting with Tanzania, he said.

Mr Kiiru said their high location favours their communication relay system, allowing faster dispatch of services. “This year, for instance, a client lost a motorbike, we also lost one and they were all recovered within an hour.

“We tracked one in some coffee plantation in Mweiga, Nyeri and the second one in a robbery incident in Kayole. With such promptness, I can vouch for our system any time.”

The firm has since introduced car tracking services. It costs Sh25,000 to have the it fixed, with an additional Sh15,000 annual maintenance fee. They also have 50 dogs trained on different capacities. It takes up to a month to fully train a dog at a cost of Sh100,000. Their dog breeds include Rottweilers, Russian Mountain and German Shepherds, for guarding, sniffing and tracking.

He said he has laid the foundation and infrastructure for his first generation of Pada Security firm, but adds that he would not mind fresh strategic shareholders to break the monotony of the family business.

Mr Kiiru’s second last born, in a family of eight, Ian Njeru, said his father has set the pace by mentoring them in the business.

“We would wish to see it grow bigger than where it is now and make him proud,” said Mr Njeru. The 27 -year-old is the firm’s business development manager.

“The recommended police- citizen ratio is one to 400,000. As the country develops crime grows too, and Pada is trying to ensure criminals do not beat us at our own game,” said Mr Kiiru.

Pada Security also offers services in validating insurance claims. They get about 10 cases monthly. They have also started the Pada Security Training Institute in Kerugoya that trains over 50 students monthly.

Mr Kiiru said growing competition in the industry only pushes them to deliver quality services. “Security business is serious business. There is big money in it and as election time nears, demand goes up for VIP protection – we are braced for it,” he said. 

smurumba@ke.nationmedia.com