Kenyans returning home through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport have accused immigration officers of demanding bribes to help them skip lengthy queues at the immigration checkpoint.
The claims come as the country’s main gateway continues to struggle with congestion linked to capacity constraints.
According to reports, multiple recent incidents involved officers allegedly soliciting payments described in some accounts as “enticement” so that passengers could move ahead of others waiting in line.
Sources indicated that officers often approach travellers holding Kenyan passports directly.
Foreign visitors, by contrast, are more frequently fast-tracked with assistance from local tour operators or hotel representatives waiting at the airport.
Social media discussions and related reports have referenced figures of up to Sh5,000 in some cases, though exact amounts vary by account.
The frustration is compounded by the already long waits many passengers face upon arrival.
The allegations surface against a backdrop of ongoing pressure on JKIA’s infrastructure. The airport has faced repeated disruptions and capacity challenges, including past industrial action that further slowed operations.
Travellers have described the situation as increasingly difficult, with queues stretching and processing times growing longer.
These claims form part of a wider pattern of complaints about practices at the airport. Earlier this year, separate cases involving immigration and other officials have drawn public and official attention, including prior arrests related to alleged extortion.
No immediate official response from the Directorate of Immigration Services or Kenya Airports Authority was detailed in the initial reports.
For many returning residents, the experience has turned what should be a routine homecoming into a source of irritation and distrust.
The risk of such practices taking root grows. Passengers and observers alike are calling for clearer processes and stronger oversight to restore confidence at Kenya’s busiest international airport.
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