Agency to speed up security checks at JKIA with new screening devices

A police officer frisks a lady at JKIA on Wednesday. The security at the airport has been enhanced. Photo/JEFF ANGOTE  

By WANGUI MAINA

In Summary

• Recently introduced vehicle checks have seen long queues, leading to delayed check-in of passengers.
• Two days ago, KAA advised passengers to arrive at all airports an hour before the usual check-in time to facilitate the checks prompted by terrorist threats.
• Kenya Airways has urged its passengers to take note of the new measures and extra time to ensure check-in on time.

Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) will deliver new screening equipment to security agencies operating at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi to ease delays at check points.

Recently introduced vehicle checks have seen long queues, leading to delayed check-in of passengers.

Two days ago, KAA advised passengers to arrive at all airports an hour before the usual check-in time to facilitate the checks prompted by terrorist threats.

“KAA and the National Police Service are in the process of increasing manpower at the screening points at the airport,” said KAA managing director Lucy Mbugua.


“This will refine the current security screening process and considerably shorten vehicle-waiting time.”


The entry lanes to JKIA will also be increased to allow more vehicles to be screened at each point reducing waiting time.

Kenya Airways has urged its passengers to take note of the new measures and extra time to ensure check-in on time.

Usually international passengers are required to report to the airport three hours before takeoff while domestic travellers should arrive two hours before the expected time of departure.

In October, the Africa Development Bank approved a Sh86 million ($1 million) grant to enhance security at the airport. The equipment includes eight walk through metal detectors, eight check-in X-ray machines and nine X-ray machines, which will replace some of the ageing equipment at the airport as well as those that were destroyed by the fire in August.

The new security measures were put in place following major questions being raised on the security situation at the international airport, especially after a recent explosion.

On January 16, an improvised explosive device (IED) went off at the airport. Inspector General of Police David Kimayo said the blast was caused by a loose light bulb that fell near Java House, causing a small fire.

Later it emerged the IED was inside abandoned luggage. The police later found the car suspected to have been involved in the incident abandoned in Shauri Moyo shopping centre with a dead man in it.

The new security measures will also be introduced in all other international airports across the country.