Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has one connected Terminal 1 (concourses 1A to 1E) and a separate Terminal 2. Buy a Safaricom SIM at arrivals (the Safaricom outlet is just outside baggage claim), take a ride-hail or the official airport taxi via the Nairobi Expressway to the CBD, and exchange only minimal cash at the airport. This guide covers every terminal, transport option, Wilson Airport safari flights, and the things JKIA doesn't tell you.
JKIA terminals: which terminal do you need?
| Terminal | Function | Airlines / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | International departures and arrivals | Kenya Airways and SkyTeam partners (KLM, Air France); the Kenya Airways lounges are here |
| 1B / 1C | International departures | Most other international carriers (British Airways, Emirates, Qatar, Turkish, Lufthansa, Ethiopian) |
| 1D | Domestic departures | Jambojet, Skyward Express and others |
| 1E | International arrivals | All international passengers land here for immigration and baggage |
| 2 | Regional / low-cost | Separate landside-only building for low-cost and regional carriers; no airside link to Terminal 1 |
Terminals 1A to 1E are one connected building, and Terminal 2 is separate. Terminal assignments vary by flight and by day, so check your boarding pass.
Terminal 1A handles Kenya Airways and its SkyTeam partners. The Kenya Airways lounges are here. Read our Kenya Airways guide for routes and baggage policies.
Terminal 1B and 1C serve most other international airlines. Both were refurbished under a KES 963 million project that began in 2021.
Terminal 1D is for domestic flights, including Jambojet and Skyward Express.
Terminal 1E is international arrivals. Every international passenger lands here, walks through immigration, collects bags, clears customs.
Terminal 2 sits apart from Terminal 1 and is landside only. If you are connecting between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, allow a lot of time (published guidance says 60–90 minutes).
Within Terminal 1, allow 10–20 minutes on foot end to end.
Arrival — What Actually Happens
Step-by-step version: the JKIA Arrival Checklist runs the whole landing sequence in order with 2026 fees, taxi rates and Expressway tolls.
You land at Terminal 1E. Some gates use jet bridges. Others require a bus ride to the terminal.
Immigration queues are the first test. Peak hours mean 30-90 minute waits when multiple long-haul flights arrive simultaneously. Officers check your ETA or visa here.
Have your approved Kenya ETA printed or saved on your phone. Since October 5, 2026, also carry proof of your mandatory Kenya travel health insurance — the $44 policy bought inside the eTA flow or on eCitizen (full guide). Airlines verify it before boarding, and immigration can check on arrival. Hotels ask for proof of accommodation but immigration rarely does.
After passport control, baggage claim belts are modern and reasonably efficient. Customs comes next — green channel if you have nothing to declare, red if you do.
Then you exit into arrivals hall chaos. SIM card kiosks, forex bureaus, taxi touts, tour operators with name signs. This is where you make your first Kenya decisions.
SIM Cards — Buy Here, Not Later
Safaricom has an outlet at Terminal 1A (open 6am to midnight daily) and another at Gate 15, and Airtel has an outlet in the Terminal 1A arrivals area. Passport registration is mandatory for any SIM in Kenya.
Safaricom is the default choice. Its network has the widest coverage, including safari parks and the coast. The SIM itself is cheap (reported at about KES 100), and Safaricom's Jambo Tourist Bundles, available for your first 90 days, start at KES 2,000 for 12 GB with free WhatsApp and local minutes. There is also an eSIM sold in Safaricom shops with your original passport.
Airtel sells standard bundles and has thinner coverage outside the big cities. Fine for Nairobi only.
Buy a SIM immediately so you can book a ride-hail without hunting for WiFi.
M-Pesa requires a Safaricom SIM and registration at an official shop. If you plan to use M-Pesa for SGR train tickets or local payments, Safaricom is non-negotiable.
Money — Exchange Smart, Not Fast
Forex bureaus operate at JKIA, but airport rates are generally worse than city rates. Exchange only what you need for immediate transport and find better rates tomorrow at bureaus in Westlands or the CBD.
ATMs in the arrivals area (Equity and KCB) are your best airport option for local cash. Your home bank may add its own fees.
Bring clean, undamaged USD bills if you have them. Torn or marked bills get refused.
How do you get from JKIA to Nairobi city centre?
| Transport Option | Notes |
|---|---|
| Uber / Bolt / Little Cab | Request from inside the terminal; pickup is at the signed ride-hail zone, not the arrivals doors; surge pricing is common |
| Official airport taxi | Rank just outside Terminal 1A arrivals, with stands at 1B, 1C and 1E; posted fares |
| Pre-booked private car | A driver waits with a name sign; best for late-night arrivals |
| Citi Hoppa bus 34/34B | Cheapest option; about 60–90 minutes to the CBD, running roughly 6am to 9pm |
Ride-hail (Uber, Bolt, Little Cab) works from inside the terminal once you have data. The pickup point is a signed ride-hail zone or car park a short walk from baggage claim, not the arrivals doors. Match the plate, driver and car in the app before you get in. In mid-2026 fares to the CBD were reported at roughly KES 1,800–3,000, with the expressway toll added to the fare. Expect surge pricing at peak times.
Driver cancellations and pickup-area chaos are common at JKIA, so expect waits at peak times.
Official airport taxis operate from a rank just outside Terminal 1A arrivals, with stands at 1B, 1C and 1E. Posted fares in August 2025 were about KES 2,000–2,500 to the CBD, KES 2,500–3,000 to Westlands, and KES 3,000–3,500 to Karen and Lang'ata. No surge pricing.
Pre-booked private cars wait with a name sign. Best for late-night arrivals when ride-hail drivers are scarce.
The Citi Hoppa bus (route 34/34B) costs about KES 100 and takes 60–90 minutes to the CBD, running roughly 6am to 9pm. It is not practical with large luggage or after dark.
Unlicensed touts approach in the arrivals hall offering transport. Decline and use the taxi desk or an app.
Nairobi Expressway — The Game-Changer
The 27km elevated toll road, from Mlolongo to Westlands, opened in 2022 and transformed the airport-to-city equation.
Before Expressway: 45-90 minutes crawling through Mombasa Road traffic.
With Expressway: 12-20 minutes to the city centre.
Toll rates for saloon cars, per the gazetted rates effective 1 January 2024 (check for revisions):
- JKIA to Westlands: KES 410
- JKIA to Haile Selassie (CBD) or Museum Hill: KES 330
- JKIA to Eastern Bypass: KES 170
You can pay by electronic tag, tap card, cash or mobile money. Ride-hail apps add the toll to the fare.
This is worth it. The old surface road still exists but traffic makes it miserable. Pay the toll.
Lounges — Worth It?
Kenya Airways runs the Pride and Simba lounges in Terminal 1A, the Asante lounge in 1C and the Msafiri lounge in 1D. Paid access for economy passengers is priced by length of stay, from USD 40 for up to three hours, and children 2 to 12 pay half. Access is also included for Kenya Airways business class and SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus passengers.
For a 3-hour wait before a long flight, a lounge buys you quiet and air conditioning. For a 45-minute connection, skip it.
Duty Free — The Truth
Duty-free shops in Terminal 1A sell luxury brands, liquor, perfume and electronics.
Worth buying: Kenyan coffee, Tusker beer, local spirits like Kenya Cane or Konyagi, Maasai beadwork souvenirs.
Not worth buying: International liquor, perfume and electronics, which are generally no cheaper than in the city or at other hubs.
For Kenya-specific souvenirs, the airport shops stock beaded jewelry, Kisii soapstone, Maasai shukas, and macadamia nuts. Prices are higher than at the Maasai Market in the city.
Food — What's Available
Java House is everywhere. Kenya's dominant café chain serves decent coffee, sandwiches, and meals. Reliable if boring.
KFC offers familiar international fast food. Dormans Coffee serves premium Kenyan coffee.
Most variety sits airside in Terminal 1A near the gates. Terminal 2 has limited options.
Food quality is fine. Prices are airport prices, higher than city restaurants.
WiFi and Charging
Free WiFi network "JKIA_Free_WiFi" runs 24/7 with no time limits. Connect by entering name and email, accepting terms.
Speed handles email and social media fine. Video streaming may struggle during peak hours.
Charging stations with UK-style Type G plugs and USB ports are scattered near seating areas and gates. Kenya uses 240V with British 3-pin plugs. Bring a UK adapter or universal adapter.
Departure — Don't Cut It Close
Check-in timing:
- International flights: 3 hours before departure (minimum 2 hours)
- Regional flights: 2 hours before
- Domestic flights: 90 minutes before
Immigration queues at departure can be long during the morning peak when Europe and Middle East flights bunch together.
For international flights, aim to be through security 90 minutes before boarding. That gives you time for last-minute duty free and a coffee without sprinting to your gate.
Layovers — Is It Worth Leaving?
Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport sits inside the airport perimeter, about a five-minute drive from the terminals, with 172 rooms, a rooftop bar and grill and a free 24-hour shuttle. Crowne Plaza and Hilton Garden Inn also run free 24-hour airport shuttles.
Book one of these for overnight layovers. For 8+ hour daytime layovers, you could venture into Nairobi.
Nairobi National Park is right next to the airport. With the Expressway, the city centre is about 20 minutes away. A quick layover safari or city lunch is feasible if you have 8+ hours and are willing to risk it.
Skip it if your layover is under 6 hours. Customs, transport, eating, and returning eats time fast.
Wilson Airport — The Safari Flight Hub
Wilson Airport sits about 6km from the Nairobi CBD and about 17km from JKIA, roughly 30–45 minutes by ride-hail off-peak and well over an hour in rush hour. Allow plenty of time if you are connecting from an international arrival.
This is where safari flights depart. Safarilink, Air Kenya, Skyward Express and Mombasa Air Safari all operate from Wilson.
Most flights are under 2 hours to safari destinations like Masai Mara, Amboseli, Lamu and Diani.
The critical information they don't tell you clearly enough:
Safarilink limits baggage to 15kg per person in soft bags only, including hand luggage (20kg for Zanzibar, Kisumu, Kitale, Diani, Vipingo and Lodwar). No bag may exceed 90 x 65 x 35cm.
NO hard-shell suitcases. Bush planes have irregularly shaped cargo holds, and soft duffel bags squeeze into corners.
If you are over the limit, excess baggage is carried subject to space and can be bought in advance (up to 48 hours before departure) in batches of 10, 20 or 30 kg. Safarilink also offers free secure storage at the Wilson check-in counter for items you don't need on safari. Other operators set their own rules, so check yours.
Mombasa — Moi International Airport
Moi International Airport is smaller and simpler than JKIA. One terminal handles both domestic and international flights.
It is about 10-12km from Mombasa city centre. Drive time varies with traffic (worst in the morning and evening rush).
Arrival process is identical to JKIA but faster, with a compact layout and shorter queues.
The Dongo Kundu Bypass (also called the Mombasa Southern Bypass) has opened in phases since 2018, with further sections opening in August 2024. It lets traffic reach Diani without the Likoni Ferry, which has unpredictable waits.
For Diani Beach visitors, this bypass is genuinely good news. Pre-book your transfer and confirm they use the bypass route.
Ukunda Airstrip — Diani's Secret Weapon
Ukunda Airport (UKA) is a tiny regional airstrip near Diani Beach. Main advantage: 5-10 minute taxi ride to Diani hotels versus the multi-hour journey from Mombasa airport.
Jambojet flies from JKIA twice daily. Safarilink, Skyward Express, and Mombasa Air Safari fly from Wilson.
The landing experience is basic. Mobile control tower, short runway, minimal facilities.
Most Diani resorts are 5–10 minutes away by taxi.
For Diani-focused trips, flying into Ukunda instead of Mombasa saves a lot of time in each direction. Worth it if the flight price premium is reasonable.
What the Airport Doesn't Tell You
JKIA has a troubled reputation among frequent Kenya visitors: immigration queues, leaking roofs during rain, past power blackouts, construction chaos.
JKIA handled about 8.9 million passengers in 2025 against a design capacity of about 7.5 million, and the government has acknowledged significant congestion at peak hours. The 2025-2045 Integrated Master Plan raises capacity in phases to about 12 million and ultimately about 22 million, with a new X-shaped terminal (a first phase of 10 million passengers, expandable to 15 million) and a second parallel runway planned for later in the plan, not in the next few years.
Common frustrations:
- Long immigration queues during peak arrival times
- Confusion navigating to Terminal 2 (it's detached from the main loop)
- Construction disruption causing temporary airline relocations between terminals
- Uber driver cancellations and pickup area chaos
None of this is deal-breaking. Millions of passengers transit JKIA successfully every year. Just build in extra time and manage expectations.
The Bottom Line
Buy a Safaricom SIM at arrivals. Exchange minimal money. Use ride-hail or the official taxi via the Expressway. Skip duty free unless buying coffee or local souvenirs.
For Wilson safari flights, pack soft-sided bags within your airline's limit (Safarilink: 15kg). For Diani trips via Mombasa, confirm your transfer uses the Dongo Kundu Bypass.
JKIA isn't Singapore Changi. It's a functional African airport with ongoing upgrades, occasional frustrations, and surprisingly good coffee at Java House.
You'll get through it fine. Then Kenya starts.
Planning your Nairobi visit? Browse where to eat in Nairobi, explore Nairobi nightlife, or discover things to do in Mombasa. For complete Kenya travel logistics, check our Kenya ETA guide and Is Kenya safe articles.
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