New rules to deny stowaways airport access

Kenya has moved to set stringent access rules for its airports, six months after an embarrassing stowaway incident spotlighted security gaps at the strategic facilities.

In a raft of new measures proposed by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), only those holding special passes can be allowed into restricted parts of airports such as aerodromes.

Persons seeking access to restricted areas will have to undergo thorough vetting including background security checks before being issued with the special passes.

This requirement extends to airport staff that handle “legitimate functions” within the restricted areas.

The measures are contained in the draft Kenya Civil Aviation (Security) Regulations that have since been published for public review.

“Every operator of an airport serving civil aviation in Kenya shall establish, implement and maintain a written Airport Operator Security Programme that meets the requirements of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme and these Regulations,” reads the regulations.

In June last year, a male body fell off the landing gear compartment of a Kenya Airways aircraft moments before landing at London’s Heathrow Airport.

The unidentified “intruder” thought to have had insider links shone spotlight on the quality of checks at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport just three years after it achieved a Category One Status for top security safeguards, allowing for start of direct flights to the US.

In the draft guidelines, KCAA wants operators to heighten control to all airports in the country to unauthorised personnel.

“An Airport Operator Security Programme shall provide for background checks to be completed in respect of persons implementing security controls, persons with unescorted access to security restricted areas, and persons with access to sensitive aviation security information prior to their taking up these duties or accessing such areas or information,” reads the draft.

KCAA Director-General Gilbert Kibe has invited sector players for a meeting on January 15 to discuss the new rules which he explained are in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a specialized global aviation regulating agency of the United Nations.

“The KCAA is in the process of reviewing the current Aviation Security regulations in compliance with ICAO Universal security audit programme continuous monitoring approach,” said Mr Kibe in a notice.