Security stepped up at Moi International Airport, Mombasa

Interior Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo (left), Haki Africa CEO Khalid Hussein (centre) and Mombasa County Senator Hassan Omar during the security and justice stakeholders’ forum in Mombasa Sunday.  [Photo: Omondi Onyango/Standard]

By Philip Mwakio

Mombasa, Kenya: Security in and around Kenya’s second largest airport has been beefed up, with passengers now required to undergo thorough screening using advanced equipment.

The move at the Moi International Airport (MIA) in Mombasa has been precipitated by nationwide intelligence reports that Al-Shabaab militia could be planning a new wave of attacks at strategic installations in the country.

According to MIA acting Security Manager Daniel Musonye, passengers and all those accessing the facility are being subjected to physical body searches, while passengers and their luggage are checked for explosives.

A newly installed Explosive Trace Detector machine, which was donated by the United Kingdom is being fully utilised by the Kenya Airport Authority security marshals manning the departure lounge at the facility.

Motorists are also subjected to   thorough searches at the airport toll where police manning a roadblock carry out the security checks.

“This explosive trace detector machine traces microscopic particles which might have come from a person handling explosives or any other dangerous cargo. A swap is done randomly on luggage and automated results appear. If found positive, thorough searches and investigations are done on the luggage and its owner,’’ Musonye said.

Tourism players have welcomed the move, urging passengers to bear with delays as a result of checks.