The government has announced a raft of measures to tighten controls and improve operational efficiency at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), including new passenger processing systems and stricter baggage handling procedures.
The measures are part of the broader Sh154.2 billion JKIA modernisation programme aimed at increasing airport capacity, improving operations and strengthening Kenya’s position as a regional aviation hub.
The government is deploying the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS), which is expected to improve the identification and management of departing and arriving domestic and international flights.
Under the optimisation plan, terminals will also have a centralised system for airline check-in and passenger screening, alongside clearer designations for arrivals and departures.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) said the modernisation programme also includes construction of a new terminal, with the contractor already on site.
The terminal is expected to take 54 months to complete and will add capacity for approximately 10 million passengers annually.
The government is also advancing implementation of the Advanced Passenger Registration (APR) system to improve information sharing and operational situational awareness.
According to the Border Control and Operations Coordination Committee (BCOCC), facilities associated with the system are expected to become operational within the next month.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo, who chairs the BCOCC, called for full implementation of resolutions reached by the committee.
“When we agree on certain things, it is critical that we follow them through. So that it is not just an issue of simply ticking the boxes,” Omollo said.
The government has also ordered stricter enforcement of baggage handling procedures at JKIA. Airlines have been directed to ensure baggage is properly identified and processed either as passenger luggage or cargo, depending on its classification.
Passengers travelling to Nairobi have been warned against attaching their luggage to that of other passengers.
Authorities said any baggage found to have been handled in this manner at the airport will be returned at the passenger’s own cost.
Cargo must also be processed through designated terminals and in line with established procedures.
Airlines found facilitating the movement of cargo outside authorised channels will face regulatory action, including suspension where applicable.
The BCOCC said the measures are intended to curb irregular baggage handling practices by some operators, including the transportation of luggage beyond permissible passenger baggage limits.
Authorities said such practices violate established aviation safety and baggage sizing guidelines issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as well as carrier-specific carry-on requirements contained in a Kenya Civil Aviation Authority advisory circular.
Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang stressed the importance of closer cooperation among agencies involved in border control and airport operations.
“We need a relationship between all the agencies. We need a coordinated approach; one that is intelligence-led, walk together, knowing that we have a common focus on ensuring that our country is able to secure itself, while ensuring that we don't compromise on travel and trade,” Kipsang said.
JKIA currently handles approximately 8.8 million passengers and more than 358 kilotonnes of cargo annually.
The airport is also a major transit hub, with approximately 60 per cent of passengers processed at the facility being transit passengers.
The optimisation measures are expected to increase JKIA’s passenger handling capacity from approximately eight million to 12 million passengers annually.
The government said the measures are intended to improve passenger processing while strengthening security and operational coordination at the airport.
The modernisation programme is also expected to provide additional infrastructure and systems to accommodate growing passenger and cargo demand. Authorities said the combination of new technology, expanded infrastructure, stricter baggage controls and enhanced inter-agency coordination will support the airport’s long-term operational efficiency.
The government has directed agencies involved in the programme to ensure that agreed measures are implemented and translate into tangible improvements at JKIA.