Security officers term political instability, civil unrest as big concerns for the sector

In an online survey conducted between March 21 and April 16, 2025, involving 2,352 chief security officers (CSOs) across 31 countries, 45 per cent of Kenya’s CSOs cited political instability as their biggest concern, followed closely by civil unrest at 43 per cent, both figures significantly higher than the Sub-Saharan Africa regional averages.

This shift comes months after a series of youth-led protests that disrupted major cities and triggered widespread economic losses. z

The report warns that more than 1 in 5 companies, 21 per cent, expect to be directly affected by protests or demonstrations over the next year. Despite this, economic fears appear to be easing, with 41 per cent of businesses naming economic instability a leading threat; a drop from 52 per cent last year.

“Political and civil unrest can have an immediate and costly impact on businesses and investor confidence, and security leaders are preparing to bolster their physical security programs in response,” said Laurence Okelo, Managing Director of G4S Kenya. 

“The predicted easing of economic instability provides some room for optimism, but companies must continue building resilience through security upgrades, workforce safety and contingency planning,” adds Okelo. 

According to the report, 79 per cent of Kenyan firms plan to increase their physical security budgets, with prioritized investment in new technology and infrastructure (83%), risk assessments (71%), and regulatory compliance (66%).  

Rising insurance premiums were also highlighted, with institutional investors warning of significant financial risks, estimating that a major security incident could reduce a listed company’s value by 32 per cent.

“Fraud is the dominating internal and external threat across the region, which can be tied back to economic instability. Despite these challenges, there are plenty of opportunities across the region, and it is encouraging to see the planned investment in smart security infrastructure and AI-powered video surveillance,” said Christo Terblanche, Regional President of G4S in Africa.  

Across Africa, 40 per cent of CSOs say threats of violence toward company executives have risen in the past two years, while 78 per cent say their firms have been targeted by misinformation or disinformation campaigns.

Global companies with total revenue exceeding $25 trillion participated in the study. The survey included 58 security chiefs from Kenya and 174 from Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The report also included 200 global institutional investors managing over $1 trillion in assets.