As of August 2026, airport security and passenger screening across East Africa are undergoing a significant transformation. The region is witnessing a dual-track evolution: the introduction of advanced technology to speed up passenger processing and a major offensive against document fraud and migrant smuggling networks that exploit air routes. From the installation of new scanners at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the launch of a regional counter-smuggling programme spanning three East African nations, the way passengers and cargo are checked is changing rapidly.
The Passenger Experience: Faster Screening at JKIA
East Africa’s busiest aviation hub, JKIA, is implementing upgrades aimed at making the security screening process less cumbersome for the millions of travellers who pass through its terminals each year. Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Board Chairperson Caleb Kositany announced that the airport is in the process of installing advanced security scanners that will allow passengers to pass through security without removing their shoes and belts . This move aligns with a broader global trend where advanced 3D scanning technology is eliminating long-standing passenger inconveniences .
The upgrade to “shoe-on” screening is designed to reduce delays and congestion at security checkpoints, particularly during peak travel hours. It forms part of a broader infrastructure improvement plan aimed at boosting JKIA’s capacity, which was originally designed to handle about two million passengers annually but now serves more than three times that number .
Beyond security screening, JKIA is also rolling out biometric passenger processing. A project is underway to install e-gates equipped with facial recognition and biometric technology, intended to speed up passenger processing while tightening security . The total cost for this modernisation at JKIA stands at Sh2.8 billion, with the e-gates already having arrived at the airport for installation . Officials argue that this system will cut long queues for immigration stamps, improve passenger profiling, and handle the nearly eight million annual arrivals and departures at Kenya’s border points more efficiently . Plans also exist for later expansion to Moi International Airport in Mombasa and other entry points .
Regional Collaboration: A Unified Front Against Smuggling
In a significant development, a coordinated regional approach to airport security is being implemented across East Africa. In July 2026, Kenya and the United Kingdom launched the Regional Counter-Smuggling Programme (RCSP), a three-year initiative implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to strengthen airport border security, disrupt migrant smuggling networks, and enhance cooperation among border management agencies in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia .
The programme responds to increasingly sophisticated forms of document fraud and migrant smuggling affecting air routes across the region . It aims to strengthen border-management capacities at selected airports through technical assessments, infrastructure upgrades, specialized training, and the deployment of intelligence and detection technologies .
The IOM will work with immigration authorities to upgrade selected airport infrastructure and operational capacity through the provision of specialised document-examination and biometric equipment, including VERIFIER TD&B/DESC workstations . The programme also focuses on developing standardised training curricula, improving inter-agency information-sharing, and supporting the identification and protection of migrants in vulnerable situations .
Under the programme, interventions will focus on key airports across the three countries, including:
Kenya: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Moi International Airport, Kisumu International Airport, Eldoret International Airport, and Malindi Airport .
Somalia: Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, as well as the airports of Bossaso, Garowe and Kismayo .
Ethiopia: Airports that form key nodes in smuggling networks .
This initiative is a direct response to the fact that criminal networks exploit gaps in border-management systems, limited institutional capacities, and fragmented information-sharing to facilitate irregular movements, exposing migrants to smuggling, abuse, exploitation, and trafficking .
Technology and Infrastructure: The Backbone of Modernisation
The modernisation of airport checking is being underpinned by significant investment in screening technology and infrastructure. The appointment of HISSCO’s KGT Security as an exclusive partner for East Africa reflects the growing need for advanced airport checkpoint upgrades, hold-baggage deployment, and high-energy cargo systems integration across the region . This partnership aims to introduce a streamlined screening framework to support airport operations, cargo screening networks, and border control environments .
In Uganda, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), in partnership with ICAO, is focusing on strengthening aviation security through training and risk assessment. This reflects a regional commitment to maintaining high standards in response to emerging global threats . Entebbe International Airport, which opened a new 20,000 sqm passenger terminal in early 2026 to boost capacity, is a key node in this security network .
Meanwhile, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) plans to install advanced 3D and AI scanners at Eldoret Airport to cut clearance time for cargo. This is part of a broader national strategy to modernise customs operations and leverage technology for faster, more efficient trade facilitation .
Conclusion
Airport checking in East Africa is being redefined by a combination of passenger-centric convenience and a robust, technology-driven security framework. While the passenger experience at JKIA is set to improve with shoe-on screening and biometric e-gates, a parallel effort is underway to combat the serious threat of transnational organised crime at the region’s airports. The success of these initiatives will depend on effective coordination, transparent procurement, and sustained investment.
