Kenya Makes History in World Airport Security

The entrance of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in August 2017.
The entrance of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in August 2019.
Kenyans.co.ke

Kenya has made history in the global airport ranking after it scored 91 per cent in an audit done by United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

In a statement dated Saturday, July 30, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) stated that the 91.77 score was the highest mark ever recorded in Eastern and Central Africa.

The historic results were credited to the security measures put up at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Moi International Airport in Mombasa.

Security screening machines at JKIA.
Security screening machines at JKIA.
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KAA

The two airports were audited based on the Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP) developed by the UN agency.

On his part, Transport Cabinet Secretary, James Macharia, expressed that the historic ranking was a testament to the security measures that had been put in place by the government and KCAA.

Further, Macharia indicated that the ranking puts Kenya second in Africa in terms of airport security.

"In 2015. There were 32 findings from 300 protocol questions, with observations made at JKIA alone. Comparatively, in the May 2022 audit, the scope increased to 493 protocol questions and included visits to both JKIA and Moi International Airport, Mombasa. The number of findings has dropped to only 15 findings in 2022.

"With the current audit results released by ICAO, Kenya is now ranked second in Africa and has already attained and even surpassed the target set by ICAO of achieving a Sustainability Indicator Score of 90% by the year 2030," he stated.

The Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP) was developed by the ICAO and is aimed at helping counties all over the world improve the security of their airports through various guidelines.

Among the issues that GASeP seeks to address include airport cyber security and acts of terrorism.

"The goals of the GASeP include improving technical assistance and strengthened regional coordination, and the development of the Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP) strategy," ICAO stated.

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Police officers at JKIA, Nairobi
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