Nairobi, Kenya, Feb 16 – Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen says the government has rolled out a multi agency initiative to improve service delivery at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Murkomen who was speaking during a stakeholder meeting at JKIA averred that the stakeholders including the Kenya Revenue Authority are keen on ensuring that travelers going through the airport get the best services.
“I am happy we have had a conversation with KRA to make sure that we continue raising revenue in the country without inconveniencing any passengers passing through our airport,” he said.
He noted that the government has already streamlined the process of people who can access certain parts of the airport, noting that there have been reports of some security personnel taking advantage of travelers and harassing them.
“It created a very bad image of us. It is important that this airport reflects the character and the aspirations of the people of Kenya,” he added.
JKIA has previously come under sharp criticism over its handling of passengers at the customs center.
In November last year, Parliament through its Defence and Foreign Relations committee faulted KRA over a section of its officials taking advantage of the directive to declare goods at the entry point to harass tourists.
Committee chair Nelson Koech maintained that this was giving the country a bad public image.
“We are entering the peak tourism season and His Majesty’s visit to Kenya is poised to give our tourism a very big boost. The KRA’s passenger Terminal Guidelines could not have come at a worse time. This is not the time to be threatening those coming to Kenya,” said Koech at the time.