Amanze Chinonye
Long queues at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday night have triggered fresh criticism of passenger-processing delays at Kenya’s main international gateway, with travellers calling for immediate measures to ease congestion, Prime Business Africa reports.
Join our WhatsApp Channel
Videos shared online showed passengers waiting in lengthy queues, including tourists, local travellers and families with young children. The scenes prompted complaints about prolonged waiting times and the conditions passengers faced while navigating the airport.
READ ALSO :
The congestion occurred during a busy night period, when multiple international flights placed additional pressure on passenger-processing facilities. The incident renewed concerns about JKIA’s ability to handle peak traffic efficiently.
Travellers took to social media to demand answers from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and other responsible agencies, with calls for immediate measures to prevent similar disruptions.
The incident also drew attention to the potential impact of airport delays on Kenya’s tourism sector. Tourism stakeholders have previously warned that a difficult arrival experience can influence visitors’ perception of the country.
Monday night’s disruption comes as JKIA continues to operate under capacity pressure. The airport handled about 8.93 million passengers in 2025, above its designed annual capacity of approximately 7.5 million, according to the Ministry of Roads and Transport.
The government is pursuing a longer-term solution through a KSh154.2 billion modernisation and expansion project awarded to China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). The project is expected to increase JKIA’s annual passenger-handling capacity to about 22 million.
However, the project is expected to take about 36 months, meaning it will not provide an immediate solution to the congestion experienced by passengers on Monday night.
READ MORE :
From Fire to Function: How MMA2 Became Nigeria’s Only Airport That Actually Works
The episode has therefore placed renewed focus on operational measures that can improve passenger flow while the expansion is being implemented.
KAA has previously introduced additional immigration booths, increased staffing and electronic gates to speed up passenger processing. The latest queues have nevertheless raised questions about whether those measures are adequate during periods of heavy traffic.
No immediate official explanation from KAA or the Ministry of Roads and Transport for the specific cause of Monday night’s congestion was available at the time of filing this report.
The incident has increased pressure on airport authorities to improve passenger processing during peak periods and ensure that travellers are not subjected to prolonged delays.
While the planned expansion is intended to address JKIA’s long-term capacity constraints, Monday night’s disruption has underscored the need for immediate operational improvements at the airport.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
