Skills development and employee performance in the private security industry in Kenya: an empirical perspective

The main objective of the study was to establish the influence of skills development on employee performance in the Private Security in Kenya. The significance of the study is to improve employee performance, address the skills gap, and suggest policy frameworks towards achieving decent work in the sector. The study adopted descriptive research design and positivism research philosophy. The study unit of observation was the Private Security Guards. Triangulation was adopted in sampling techniques and data collection tools. The pilot test of 10% of the sample size was used. Both descriptive statistics, statistical inferences and hypothesis testing was conducted, to help draw a robust, credible and objective conclusion. Majority, 78 (52%) of the respondents strongly agreed that soft skills enhances performance. The regression result showed that there is statistically significant relationship between skills development and employee performance with the regression coefficient of 0.065. This implies that, ceteris paribus, a unit change in the score of skills development leads to 0.065 units change in the score of employee performance. Hence, recommends implementation of policies that promote employee on-boarding, employability, and computer skills. Employees need to re-skill, up-skill and cross-skill, while integrating soft and technical skills. The study further suggests that sector skills plan, provision of skills development fund to support apprenticeship and a robust labour market information systems is imperative.