CCTV is one of the most common security investments in Kenya, and one of the most commonly wasted. Cameras that point at the sky, can't see at night, or record over the evidence before anyone looks are worse than useless, because they make you feel protected. Here's how to get a system that works.
Start with what you need to see
Before thinking about cameras, list the places where something could happen and what you'd need to see there. At a gate, you want faces and number plates. On a perimeter wall, you want to know someone is there. At a till, you want to see hands and cash. Each job needs a different camera and a different position.
Camera types, in plain terms
- Bullet cameras are good for long, narrow views such as driveways and fence lines, and they are a visible deterrent.
- Dome cameras are harder to tamper with and suit reception areas, corridors and shops.
- PTZ cameras (pan, tilt, zoom) can be moved remotely and are useful for large compounds with a control room operator.
- IP cameras give sharper images and more features than older analogue (HD-TVI/AHD) systems, but they need proper network cabling.
Night vision matters more than resolution
Most incidents in Kenya happen at night. A 4MP camera with good infrared or colour night vision will outperform an 8MP camera with poor low-light performance. Ask to see night footage from the model you're being offered.
Storage: how many days do you keep?
Recorders (DVR or NVR) overwrite old footage when the hard drive fills. Many problems, like stock theft, are discovered days or weeks later. Aim for at least 14 to 30 days of recording, and size the hard drive to match.
Power backup is not optional
If your cameras go off when KPLC does, so does your security. A UPS for the recorder and cameras, or a connection to your backup power, keeps the system running through outages.
What affects the cost of CCTV installation
- The number and type of cameras
- Cable distances and how hard the cable routes are (trenching, ceilings, masonry)
- Recorder capacity and hard drive size
- Power backup
- Remote viewing setup and internet connection
- Whether you want 24-hour monitoring by a control room
Watch out for: very low quotes that use unbranded cameras, thin cable or no power backup. Ask what brand is being installed and what warranty comes with it.
Recording vs monitoring
A recording system tells you what happened. A monitored system can stop it happening. With monitoring, cameras send alerts to a control room, an operator checks the footage, and a response team can be sent while the intruder is still on site.
Keep it maintained
Lenses get dusty, cables get chewed and hard drives fail. A maintenance contract with regular checks keeps the system working when you need it.
Protech Security designs, installs, monitors and maintains CCTV systems across Kenya. Request a CCTV quote and we'll survey your site for free.
