Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

The airport is about 18 km southeast of central Nairobi. By road the trip to the CBD or Westlands usually takes 25 to 40 minutes using the Nairobi Expressway outside rush hour. Without the Expressway, or at peak times, the drive along Mombasa Road can take more than an hour, so allow extra time in the morning and evening.

Yes. JKIA lies in Embakasi, a suburb within Nairobi, on the southeastern side of the city. It is reached from Mombasa Road via Airport South Road. The CBD and Westlands are linked to the airport area by the Nairobi Expressway, an elevated toll road, which avoids much of the city traffic.

JKIA has two terminal buildings. Terminal 1 is divided into units: 1A for Kenya Airways and SkyTeam partners, 1B and 1C for other international departures, 1D for domestic flights and 1E for international arrivals. Terminal 2 is a separate building about 900 metres away, used by low-cost, regional and charter flights. Check your ticket for the unit you need.

Kenya Airways uses Terminal 1A for international flights, together with SkyTeam partners such as KLM and Air France. Its domestic flights, and those of its low-cost subsidiary Jambojet, generally use Terminal 1D. Other international airlines usually depart from Terminals 1B and 1C. Terminal assignments can change, so confirm on your booking and the departure screens.

Yes. Licensed airport taxis wait at a designated rank just outside the arrivals area. Fares are agreed before the trip, so confirm the amount and whether Nairobi Expressway tolls are included before you get in. Avoid touts and people offering rides inside or outside the terminal, and use only the official rank or a driver you arranged in advance.

City bus route 34 serves the airport and runs to central Nairobi. It is the only regular public option from the terminals, but it is slow in traffic and has little space for large suitcases. Most arriving international travelers use a licensed taxi, a ride-hailing app or a pre-arranged transfer instead, especially after dark or with luggage.

Yes. Uber, Bolt and Little Cab all operate at JKIA. Pickups usually take place in the public parking area rather than at the taxi rank, and drivers often call or message to confirm the exact spot. You need mobile data to book, so buying a local SIM card in the arrivals area first can help.

Most visitors need a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), applied for online at etakenya.go.ke before departure. Citizens of East African Community countries and many other African nations are exempt for stays of up to 60, 90 or 180 days, depending on nationality. Travelers who skip a required eTA can be refused boarding or charged a penalty on arrival.

Wilson Airport, used by Safarilink and AirKenya Express for flights to the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Samburu, is about 18 km from JKIA by road. Expect around an hour from clearing customs to checking in at Wilson, and longer in heavy traffic. Bags are not checked through, so you collect them at JKIA and check in again.

Kenya Airways and Jambojet fly from JKIA to Mombasa, and Jambojet also serves Diani (Ukunda) and Malindi. Domestic flights generally leave from Terminal 1D. If you arrive on an international flight with a separate ticket, you will need to collect your bags, go landside and check in again for the domestic leg.

Kenya is on East Africa Time (UTC+3) all year and does not use daylight saving time. The currency is the Kenyan shilling. Bureaus in the arrivals area change US dollars, euros and pounds, ATMs are available, and the M-Pesa mobile money service is widely used. The airport sits about 1,624 m above sea level.

The airport is run by the Kenya Airports Authority. It handled about 9.1 million passengers in 2024 and is the base of Kenya Airways. It has a single runway, 4,117 m long. The airport opened in 1958 as Embakasi Airport and was later renamed after Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president.