Q. What happens during airport screening for persons wearing head coverings, and other cultural, ceremonial or religious attire?

A. Such persons with head coverings, loose fitting or bulky attire may undergo additional security screening, which may include a pat-down or go through a body scanner where one is available. A pat-down will be conducted by an airport screener of the same gender. If an alarm cannot be resolved through a pat-down, the person may be asked to remove the head covering in a private screening room. Religious knives, swords and other objects that may be used to endanger the safety of other passengers on board aircraft are not permitted through the security checkpoint and must be packed in checked baggage.

The passenger should inform the airport screener if she/he has religious, cultural or ceremonial items that require special handling.

Q. Are airport screeners licensed?

A. Yes. All security personnel who conduct screening at the airport are required to undergo training as screeners followed by a period of On-Job-Training, before being presented to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority for certification (equivalent of licensing) before they can independently undertake their duties.

Q. What happens if a passenger refuses to be screened or goes through the screening checkpoint without having been screened?

A. The screener at the screening checkpoint has an obligation to advise the passenger that he/she is within his/her right to refuse to undergo screening, but that he/she won’t be allowed to fly. Ideally, such a passenger should not be allowed to go through the screening checkpoint to join or mix with those who have been screened since he will compromise their sterility. The screener should further notify the air carrier about such a breach so that the passenger does not board. All those who are in contact with him shall be rescreened before boarding.

Q. Are Police and Military personnel subjected to the same security requirements like other passengers when travelling on aircraft?

A. Yes if they will be using commercial air transport with the other passengers.

No if they will be using State aircraft, i.e. Police or Military aircraft. In which case, their route and flow to and from the aircraft should be separate from the one used by commercial air transport passengers in order to avoid contamination.

Q. Why are airport staff screened yet they don’t’ pose any threat and can’t willfully compromise their own operations or aircraft they serve?

A. Numerous incidents and acts of unlawful interference have occurred and can still occur due to insider facilitation or directly perpetrated by the insiders themselves. The Insider threat is real and therefore airport staff must also be screened and undergo background checks before and even during employment.

Q. Are there restrictions on the size of cabin baggage?

A. Cabin baggage allowed in the cabin of the aircraft vary by airline depending on size, weight, dimensions and other factors. Contact your airline to ensure what can fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.

Q. What are the screening provisions for persons who have internal or external medical devices like pacemakers or metal implants?

A. First, consult your doctor about this for advice before flying. When you arrive at the airport and before going through screening, inform the airport security screener of your condition, if you have an artificial knew, hip or other metal implant or a pacemaker or other internal or external medical device that is in/on you. Ideally, you should undergo physical search or go through a body scanner (where available). You should therefore not be screened through the walk-through metal detector, but should you go through it and you alarm, you will undergo physical search.

Q. If l notice a security breach or violation at the airport, where or to whom do I report?

A. All security incidents at the airport should be reported to the airport police or airport duty security office.

Q. Does a training school need to be approved to conduct aviation security courses?

A. According to the civil aviation security regulations, the school needs to be certified by KCAA, the aviation security courses need to be validated and the trainers must also be certified.