In Summary:
1) National Police Service issues warning against protests at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), citing legal protections.
2) Kenya Airports Authority advises passengers to arrive early due to “heightened security checks and protocols.”
Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja. IMAGE: Courtesy
The National Police Service (NPS) has issued a stern warning against planned protests at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
Acting Inspector General Douglas Kanja emphasized that JKIA is a protected area, stating that the “Protected Areas Order as clarified under its Legal Notice No. 9 of 2011, Second Schedule, includes the LPG Plant, the Bitumen Plant and Petroleum depots situated at the Embakasi Aviation Depot (JKIA).”
The police highlighted that trespassing on government aerodromes is an offense, quoting the Kenya Civil Aviation Act: “Any person who trespasses on any land forming part of a Government aerodrome or an aerodrome licensed under regulations made under this Act commits an offence punishable by law.”
In response to these legal provisions, the NPS urged demonstrators to “respect the legal provisions and refrain from attempting to enter or interfere with protected areas.”
This warning coincides with an advisory from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), which stated: “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.”
The KAA also requested passengers to “contact their respective airlines for the latest flight information ahead of their travels.”
These guidelines follow a recent High Court decision suspending a ban on protests in Nairobi (CBD).
The NPS had initially instituted the ban, citing intelligence that the protests “could possibly turn violent.”