The experience of passengers arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday night has renewed concerns about congestion and the quality of services at Kenya’s main international gateway.
Long queues were reported at the airport on the night of Monday, August 17, with several travellers turning to social media to express their frustration. The complaints mainly focused on immigration clearance, where passengers were forced to wait for extended periods before completing the process.
A video shared online at around 10pm showed passengers waiting in long lines at the airport. The footage quickly attracted attention, with travellers questioning why passengers arriving in the country were being subjected to such delays.
Some Kenyans called on the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Rebecca Miano to take action and improve operations at the airport.
One traveller described the situation as unacceptable, pointing to the presence of tourists, mothers with babies and Kenyans returning home among those affected by the delays.
The complaints also raised concerns about the impact of congestion on Kenya’s tourism sector. JKIA is the country’s main international entry point and receives thousands of passengers travelling from different parts of the world.
For travellers arriving after long international flights, spending more time in queues can add to the difficulty of their journey. The situation can also shape the first impression visitors have of Kenya.
The latest complaints are not entirely new. JKIA has faced pressure during peak operating periods as passenger numbers continue to increase. KAA has previously indicated that the airport experiences particularly heavy traffic late at night and in the early morning, when several international flights serving Europe and the Middle East arrive or depart within a relatively short period.
The congestion has raised questions about whether the existing airport facilities can keep pace with the growing number of passengers using JKIA.
Some travellers have warned that continued problems could affect the airport’s reputation and influence travel decisions. One Kenyan suggested that passengers could consider flying to Kigali International Airport before continuing their journey to Nairobi by road if the situation at JKIA remains difficult.
Other passengers were equally critical, describing the experience as frustrating and calling for urgent improvements.
The government has already announced plans aimed at reducing congestion at JKIA. Among the measures are increasing the number of immigration booths and personnel while introducing more electronic gates to make passenger clearance faster.
Plans have also been outlined to increase check-in and security screening points. The changes are intended to reduce waiting times and ease pressure on facilities that are currently handling large numbers of passengers.
The planned modernisation of JKIA is part of a wider Ksh154 billion project aimed at expanding and improving the airport. The upgraded facility is expected to have the capacity to handle up to 22 million passengers annually.
The project involves China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and Dar Al-Handasah Consultants and is expected to take 36 months to implement.
The planned works are expected to cover airport infrastructure and terminal facilities as the government seeks to prepare JKIA for continued growth in passenger numbers.
However, Monday night’s scenes have shown that travellers are still facing challenges under the existing system. For passengers, the concern is not only about future improvements but also how quickly the current congestion can be addressed.
The latest complaints have therefore placed renewed attention on KAA and other government agencies responsible for airport operations, with travellers calling for practical measures that can reduce queues and improve the experience at JKIA.
