The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has initiated plans to introduce a taxi-hailing platform dedicated to operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), a move that could reshape ground transport services at the country’s largest aviation hub.
- •Tender documents show that KAA is seeking a technology partner to design, develop, and operate a mobile and web-based dispatch system under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
- •The selected firm will build and manage the platform and remit an agreed share of passenger fares to the authority, with bidders required to propose their revenue-sharing terms.
- •KAA has also indicated that the platform could later expand to include additional airport services such as parking reservations, lounge bookings, duty-free shopping, in-airport navigation, and digital advertising
The app will serve licensed yellow taxis authorized to operate within JKIA. Passengers will be able to book rides through a KAA- branded mobile application, a web portal, or physical kiosks located at airport terminals. Planned features include real-time fare estimates, GPS-based vehicle tracking, automated driver allocation, and digital trip notifications.
The system will also incorporate geofencing to confine pickups and drop-offs to designated airport zones, and will support advance bookings and dynamic pricing during peak travel periods. KAA has set a three-month implementation timeline from contract award to launch.
The project reflects a broader push by KAA to diversify revenue beyond aeronautical sources such as landing fees and passenger service charges. JKIA handled about 6.8 million international passengers and 2.1 million domestic passengers in 2024. App-based ride-hailing companies including Uber and Bolt currently account for a significant share of airport pickups in Nairobi.
If implemented as planned, the initiative would position the authority as a direct participant in airport mobility services while tightening controls over licensed operators at JKIA.
