Protesters eye JKIA amid beefed up security

In a movement dubbed #OccupyJKIA the protesters now eye the airport, in a bid to put more pressure on President William Ruto to meet their demands. 

On Tuesday morning, heavy traffic was witnessed in the airport as travelers rush to be on time for the heavy security checks and to catch flights on time. 

On Monday evening, the National Police Service warned protesters against accessing the airport, which is classified as a protected area in Kenya. 

Acting Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja said while Kenyans have a right to protest, they must take note of the legal boundaries that govern access to protected areas.

“The Protected Areas Act Cap 204 Laws of Kenya prevents the entry of unauthorized persons into areas which have been declared to be protected areas... [They] include the LPG Plant, the Bitumen Plant and Petroleum depots situated at the Embakasi Aviation Depot (JKIA),” the police boss said in a statement.

He added that the Kenya Civil Aviation Act provides that anyone who trespasses on any land forming part of a government aerodrome or an aerodrome commits an offence punishable by law.

In anticipating the impact of the protests, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) on Monday evening told passengers to expect longer security protocols while the national carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) advised travellers to arrive four hours before their departure time.

“Due to heightened security checks and protocols at JKIA, passengers are advised to arrive at the airport early to avoid any potential delays in catching their flights. Kindly contact your respective airline for the latest flight information,” the national airport operator said on its social media pages.