NAIROBI, Kenya – Travelers entering Kenya will now enjoy an increased duty-free import limit of up to Sh250,000, a significant jump from the previous Sh50,000 threshold, following a Cabinet approval aimed at improving the passenger experience.
The move is part of a broader strategy to enhance operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where travelers have long faced challenges, including customs seizures for exceeding the former duty-free limit.
With the new policy, passengers bringing goods for personal use valued at up to Sh250,000 will no longer be required to pay customs duties.
A dispatch from the Cabinet underscored plans to streamline security and passenger clearance at JKIA.
Security screening will now adopt a risk-based profiling system, ensuring that only flagged bags undergo manual inspection in a dedicated screening room, thereby reducing delays.
To further ease travel, all African citizens will be exempt from the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirements, promoting seamless intra-African movement.
Additionally, immigration processing will be sped up with the doubling of immigration booths and staff, as well as the introduction of E-Gates to cut down on long queues.
JKIA’s infrastructure is also set for a major overhaul, with improvements including modernized baggage handling systems, better stormwater drainage, covered walkways, enhanced air conditioning, and clearer signage.
The Cabinet emphasized that meet-and-greet services at the airport will now be strictly regulated, ensuring only licensed facilitators are allowed, a measure aimed at bolstering security and order.
Accountability measures will also be heightened, with new monitoring technology introduced to oversee airport staff.
Additionally, all agency employees and retail concessionaires will now be required to wear mandatory uniforms with visible name tags for greater transparency.
The Cabinet, chaired by President William Ruto on February 11 at State House Nairobi, also approved multiple host country agreements, reinforcing Kenya’s role as a regional hub for international organizations.
The agreements include partnerships with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Save the Children International, Shelter Afrique Development Bank, Oxfam International, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and Population Services International.
Further strengthening Kenya’s global trade and investment ties, the Cabinet ratified a double taxation agreement with Singapore to prevent fiscal evasion.
Kenya will also host the International Air Transport Association (IATA), underscoring its commitment to enhancing international cooperation and economic diplomacy.
The approved measures take immediate effect, signaling Kenya’s ambition to position JKIA as a leading aviation hub in Africa while improving efficiency, security, and overall passenger experience.
