The government has stepped up efforts to tighten controls at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), introducing stricter baggage rules and new technology as part of a Ksh154.2 billion modernisation programme targeting increased passenger capacity and improved security.
Under the ongoing optimisation plan, JKIA's annual passenger-handling capacity is expected to rise from approximately eight million to 12 million passengers.
The changes come as the country's busiest airport continues to play a major role as a regional transit hub, handling approximately 8.8 million passengers and more than 358 kilotonnes of cargo annually.
About 60 per cent of passengers processed at JKIA are transit travellers, underlining the importance of efficient operations at the facility.
Among the measures being introduced is the deployment of the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS), which is expected to streamline airport operations by improving the identification and management of arriving and departing flights, both domestic and international.
The government is also moving towards a centralised system for airline check-in and passenger screening, with airport terminals set to have clearer designations, primarily separating arrival and departure operations.
According to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the wider modernisation programme includes the construction of a new terminal, with a contractor already on site.
The project is expected to take 54 months to complete and will add capacity for approximately 10 million passengers annually.
The developments were among the updates provided during the 69th meeting of the Border Control and Operations Coordination Committee (BCOCC), where the government also announced progress in implementing the Advanced Passenger Registration (APR) system.
The system is expected to improve information sharing among relevant agencies and enhance operational situational awareness at the airport and other border points.
The data-control facilities linked to the APR system are expected to become operational within the next month.
Beyond infrastructure and technology upgrades, authorities have also moved to crack down on irregular baggage-handling practices at JKIA.
KAA has begun strictly enforcing baggage procedures, requiring airlines to ensure that all luggage is properly identified and processed either as passenger baggage or cargo, depending on its classification.
Passengers travelling to Nairobi have also been warned against attaching or linking their luggage to that of other travellers. Any baggage found to have been handled in this manner will be returned at the passenger's own cost, according to the new enforcement measures.
Cargo must similarly be processed through designated terminals and in line with established procedures. Airlines found to be facilitating the movement of cargo outside authorised channels risk facing regulatory action, including possible suspension where applicable.
According to the Committee, the directive is aimed at addressing irregular baggage-handling practices involving some operators.
The concerns include the transportation of luggage beyond permissible passenger baggage limits and practices that breach established aviation safety and baggage-sizing guidelines issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The measures also seek to enforce carrier-specific carry-on requirements outlined in a Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) Advisory Circular.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr Raymond Omollo, who chairs the BCOCC, stressed that government agencies must ensure resolutions made by the Committee are fully implemented.
Omollo cautioned against allowing resolutions to remain on paper without being translated into action, saying "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."
Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang also called for closer cooperation among government agencies, arguing that stronger coordination was necessary to secure the country without disrupting travel and trade.
"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," he urged.
The measures form part of the government's broader push to transform JKIA into a more efficient and competitive aviation hub in the region.
With millions of passengers passing through the airport every year and transit travellers accounting for the majority of its traffic, the success of the modernisation programme will be closely watched as Kenya seeks to strengthen airport security, streamline passenger processing and expand capacity to meet growing demand.
