Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), has clarified that a convoy seen driving on the JKIA tarmac in a viral video was an authorised VVIP motorcade for the Prime Minister of an African country attending the COMESA Summit.
The agency said the October 8, 2025, access strictly followed aviation security protocols, was fully compliant, and is standard for state and diplomatic dignitaries.
In a statement released on Tuesday, KAA confirmed that the footage showed the official motorcade of the Prime Minister of an African country, who arrived at 1707 hours ahead of the 24th COMESA Summit in Nairobi.
The high-level summit brought together several Heads of State and senior officials from across COMESA member states, requiring the airport to activate specialised diplomatic procedures.
KAA explained that the visiting Prime Minister was formally received by a Cabinet Secretary, as dictated by diplomatic protocol.
The Authority emphasised that the motorcade’s presence on the tarmac was neither unusual nor an exception to safety rules, but part of a well-established operational framework designed for state and international dignitaries.
According to the Authority, “all airside access for this VVIP protocol strictly followed established security procedures and regulations, reserved for state and diplomatic dignitaries.”
It added that access of this nature is not only common during major international summits but also fully compliant with global aviation security requirements.
KAA noted that the procedures applied ensure maximum safety for dignitaries, airport personnel, aircraft operations and the general public.
The agency further reaffirmed that such access is carefully coordinated between security agencies, airport operations teams, protocol officers and aviation regulators, making it impossible for any unauthorised convoy to drive onto the airside.
Its statement reiterated that “such protocols are standard at JKIA for international summits and comply fully with aviation security standards, prioritizing both operational integrity and dignitary safety.”
The clarification comes after a wave of online criticism and speculation, with some social media users questioning whether rules governing restricted sections of the airport had been overlooked.
Others voiced concerns about potential security risks, prompting the Authority to respond with a detailed explanation to restore public confidence in airport operations.
KAA made it clear that the airside remains a highly controlled zone, and that access is granted only under exceptional and well-supervised conditions, especially for visiting Heads of State and government leaders.
The Authority said that the procedures followed on October 8, 2025 mirror long-standing international practices for VIP and VVIP movements at major airports worldwide.
By issuing the clarification, KAA sought to reassure the public that airport security remains uncompromised.
The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety and adherence to international regulations, stressing that every protocol executed that day adhered to security requirements designed to protect both national interests and global aviation integrity.
KAA encouraged the public to rely on verified information from official channels when seeking clarification on airport operations.
The Authority concluded its statement by reaffirming its mission of ensuring safe and efficient airport operations across the country while facilitating diplomatic and state functions that require heightened protocol arrangements.
