Is collective bargaining for better working conditions an option for security guards from Samburu community working In Nairobi?

Abstract

The study determines whether collective bargaining for better working conditions is an option for security guards from the Samburu community working in Nairobi. The theoretical framework of the study was the Interests Theory of human rights, which emphasised the capacity of the right-holder (employee) to have rights and the obligation of the right-grantor (employer) to grant those rights. The research adopted a survey design to investigate the welfare of security guards from nomadic pastoralist communities working in Nairobi.The study involved all security guards from the Samburu community working in Nairobi as the population of study and individual security guards as the unit of analysis. Five areas of the city, that is, Westlands/Kabete, Lavington/Kangemi/Waithaka/Muthaiga/Thika Road, Karen/Lang’ata, South C/South B and Embakasi, were marked out as the places from which the study sample was taken from each of these areas. A sample of 200 security guards was selected through random sampling. The data used in the study was both quantitative and qualitative.The study focused on several employee welfare issues, including employee exposure to knowledge about trade unions, which is relevant to collective bargaining for better working conditions. The indicators examined in the study to assess the granting or non-granting of employee rights included membership in a trade union and collective bargaining rights. The findings indicated that security guards lacked information about trade unions and were not enjoying their collective bargaining rights.