Aerial view of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport/FILEFour ministries have moved to implement the Airport Charter to enhance operational efficiency at JKIA through improved agency coordination in alignment with reforms to position Kenya as an aviation hub.
The charter, which will provide guidance on governance, escalation mechanism, monitoring and evaluation, will be in place within seven days, the implementing ministries said in a joint statement on Friday.
The ministries are Interior and Coordination, Roads and Transport, Toursim and Wildlife and National Treasury and Planning.
"Through the service charter, there will be a broader review of overall customer experience from all customer touchpoints," they said.
Key areas of implementation approved by the Cabinet include enhanced security screening through advanced customer information systems to improve risk profiling.
"To uphold traveler dignity and privacy, only bags flagged by security scanners will be opened in a dedicated screening room. This aims to enhance security while ensuring a respectful and seamless travel experience," the ministries said.
"Within the next financial year, we shall acquire additional 3D security scanning equipment."
The ministries said they will also implement immediate advanced passenger information systems in line with the UN resolution, to enhance international security and streamline operational efficiency.
The initiative aims to strengthen border controls while ensuring a smoother travel experience for passengers.
"In line with the Cabinet directive, all citizens from across Africa are exempted from ETA requirements. Furthermore, multiple entry ETA and expedited ETA processing have been operationalised," the ministries said.
The Cabinet on January 21 exempted nearly all African countries from Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) except Somalia and Libya, due to security concerns.
The Cabinet said this was part of "efforts to support open skies policies and tourism growth" and "promote regional integration and ease travel across the continent."
As part of implementing the Airports Charter, Cabinet allowed the ministries responsible to increase the duty-free limit and enhance customs oversight by raising the duty-free threshold for passengers from Sh50,000 to Sh250,000, in a bid to streamline passenger goods screening.
To further strengthen customs operations, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will enhance staff capacity through training and equip all airport customs officers with body-worn cameras effective July 1, to ensure transparency and efficiency, the ministries said in the joint policy implementation statement.
To further enhance operational efficiency, the ministries have been tasked with doubling Immigration booths and staff at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and to introduce E-gates within 90 days to expedite passenger clearance and reduce overcrowding.
To enhance enhance service delivery and strengthen accountability measures for personnel across all agencies operating at the airport, technology will be deployed to monitor and ensure accountability for all staff.
"All staff working for KAA, KRA, Immigration, Port Health, KEPHIS Tourism, National Police Service and retail concessionaires must wear uniforms and name tags within two weeks. Additionally, further customer service training will be provided for all staff of agencies operating at the airport," the joint statements reads.
Regarding infrastructure improvement, the ministries noted that the government is committed to improving the overall airport infrastructure in cognisance of the aging current infrastructure.
The short-term action to be rolled out within six months include enhanced signage and wayfinding within airport and terminals, improved airside and landside storm water drainage systems, enhanced water supply system, improved terminal air conditioning, improved parking management, covered walkways/terminal canopies and access roads.
"Further, we shall establish tourist information centre to enhance visibility of what Kenya has to offer," the ministries said
They agreed to immediately adopt and implement the Airport Charter at the airport under KAA's leadership.