Baggage from Heathrow to skip JKIA screening after deal by Kenya and UK

• The agreement builds on the Kenya–UK Security Compact signed in 2025, and provides a framework for cooperation in addressing shared national, regional, and global security challenges.

A general view shows people at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ahead of a strike by Kenya airports union workers to protest on September 10, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo

Kenya and the United Kingdom have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that exempts baggage arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports from repeat security screening.

According to the State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development, the MoU will streamline baggage transfers, reduce duplication in security procedures, and support reliable passenger connections while maintaining aviation security standards.

The agreement builds on the Kenya–UK Security Compact signed in 2025, and provides a framework for cooperation in addressing shared national, regional, and global security challenges.

Speaking during the MoU signing, the Principal Secretary for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Teresia Mbaika, CBS, noted that the agreement is an important milestone in strengthening aviation security and building confidence in the systems of both countries.

“This agreement is a significant step in strengthening Kenya’s aviation competitiveness. By recognising each other’s aviation security measures, we are reducing unnecessary duplication, facilitating smoother passenger and baggage connections, and reinforcing the confidence that underpins safe international air travel,” Mbaika noted.

The United Kingdom’s Director General for Aviation, Maritime and Security at the UK Department for Transport, Ashley Ibbett, also reaffirmed the UK Government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing shared priorities in aviation security.

The Kenyan delegation also undertook a two-day knowledge exchange visit to Bristol Airport to benchmark against international best practices in aviation security, operational planning and airport management.

“Coupled with the lessons drawn from our engagement with Bristol Airport, we are advancing our ambition to make JKIA a more efficient, passenger-focused and competitive regional aviation hub, supporting the growth of tourism, trade and investment,” Mbaika said.

The agreement comes as Kenya advances the modernisation of JKIA while strengthening the operational capacity of its airports.