Visitor arrivals at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport fell sharply in March 2026, according to new data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. The drop occurred as the government prepares major infrastructure upgrades at the facility.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reported that international visitors arriving through JKIA dropped from 141,582 in February to 123,682 in March. Overall arrivals at the airport and other entry points declined from 216,738 to 193,176 over the same period. Departures through JKIA also fell from 242,679 to 231,598.
Passenger arrivals at JKIA edged down slightly from 228,826 in February to 227,974 in March. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics released the figures in its Leading Economic Indicators report on May 29.
The slowdown comes as President William Ruto has announced plans to direct billions of shillings from the National Infrastructure Fund toward new facilities and a runway at the airport. Tenders for the upgrades have been issued, with construction scheduled to begin in June.