Cabinet approves JKIA upgrade to enhance passenger experience
The passenger experience at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is set for a major overhaul after the Cabinet, in a meeting on Tuesday, adopted several measures to streamline operations and bolster security.
According to a Cabinet dispatch, Kenya’s largest aviation facility will undergo significant upgrades, including modernized baggage handling systems, improved stormwater drainage, enhanced access roads, covered walkways, better air conditioning, and clearer signage throughout the airport.
Security screening will also be revamped through risk-based profiling, ensuring that only flagged bags undergo manual inspection in a dedicated screening room. This will reduce delays and enhance overall efficiency.
A major relief for travellers from African countries is the Cabinet’s decision to drop the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirements, easing intra-African travel and movement within the region.
Duty free goods
The Cabinet also approved the increase of the duty-free threshold for goods brought into the country from Ksh 50,000 to Ksh 250,000.
Other key changes include the deployment of new technology to enhance security measures and speed up clearance processes, further improving the travel experience at the airport.
“To further expedite travel, the number of immigration booths and staff will be doubled, while E-Gates will be introduced to eliminate long queues and speed up clearance” Cabinet said.
It also noted, “Accountability measures will also be strengthened with new monitoring technology deployed to oversee airport staff, and mandatory uniforms with visible name tags required for all agency employees and retail concessionaires”.
Meet-and-greet services will be strictly regulated, ensuring only licensed facilitators operate within the airport to enhance security and order.
The measures aimed at reinforcing JKIA’s position as a leading aviation hub by improving efficiency, security, and overall passenger experience take immediate effect.
President William Ruto chaired the special meeting at State House, Nairobi, where the Cabinet approved the 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS).
