KBD

We have layovers in Nairobi on both our arrival and departure flights in October, 2013. I've read that tents are provided and that announcements are difficult to hear even for someone situated near their assigned departure "gate." Toilets the worst. No mention of food venues, but complaints that food provided on Kenya Airlines departing flights was questionable. Have any of those conditions improved?

sandi

Still tents, some do sell food, but what kind... can't say. Try to pick-up something prior arriving at airport. Toilets if using those mobile type are never good anywhere in the world.

As far as food service on Kenya Air - shoot, if I booked an airline depending on this, I'd never fly anywhere. A plane to me is good for one thing - getting from Point A to B.

You'll have to be on top of announcements and return to whomever is making them a few times... pole, pole (slowly, slowly) which means = be patient. Overall, most travelers indicate that JKIA is actually operating better than before the fire. In fact, word has it that some of the new terminal has opened for Int'l flight arrivals... whoopie.

But check on Trip Advisor www.tripadvisor.com/forums - select Kenya - there are a few threads with info updating situation at JKIA. And believe there is another here on Fodor's... scroll down.

Cateyes555

I was there 1 month ago (only 1 week after the fire) - the tents are large with many chairs set up. Portable toilets - the usual. There was a snack bar set up in the tent we were at with beer, wine, sodas, water, snacks - expensive but pretty decent choices. Yes, announcements are hard to hear - bullhorn or portable mic with poor sound quality. But you'll get where you need to go - no worries.

My info may be outdated since it was from mid-August.

amyb

My tour op for Kenya shared this on 13 Sept:


#JKIAisBack! It’s a good day for us! A section of the tents at JKIA are scheduled to be brought down as the new JKIA Int’l Arrivals opens for operations. The new temporal terminal, set up at the originally planned to be JKIA Parking Garage serviced its first 2 flights on Wednesday this week. Yesterday the new terminal successfully handled 8 test run flights including wide body aircrafts. The new arrivals terminal will have a Bank, Restaurant, Forex Bureau, Operational Offices and other airport amenities. A transit area for transiting passengers has been provided with a ventilation system installed for passenger comfort. The new terminal has a spacious Immigration area with seven serving counters set up for a speedy passenger facilitation. Three Baggage belts have been installed to serve the baggage hall.

KBD

I appreciate all of you providing what you know/ have been told. "Scheduled to be" doesn't promise an opening date, but there's hope that it opens before we travel through there. I'll keep my fingers crossed. As for the airline food, I don't ever expect much, but clean is a necessity to avoid the dysentery that might follow if questionably handled.
And I am so-o not paranoid about eating street food if it has been grilled or cooked to really hot. Maybe that's the key - Get the flight attendant to "nuke" my food in a microwave if it doesn't arrive already steaming. If it's too hot to eat immediately, it'll probably be just fine to eat. Kidding, but that makes a little sense.

amyb

Look at Kenya Airports on Twitter. There are photos of the last tents coming down on 14 September and the new temporary arrivals center that opened.

geetika

We transited Jomo Kenyatta two weeks ago. Yes, it was crowded and navigating your way past passengers and baggage was like an obstacle race, there were long lines for the toilets and I didn't even try to use them. But I found that there was some method to the madness. The temporary tents are large with plenty of chairs, some food and drink available for purchase, IMO not any more expensive than usual. Flights were on time and our bags made it, so I was happy!

abby97

I flew out of JKIA on Monday evening and the tents were still there for at least some of the departing flights, including mine (Swiss Air/United/Lufthansa). It was a little chaotic and security was enhanced (likely due to the mall siege, which was ongoing at the time), but we made it through security relatively quickly and found the tent to be comfortable enough. The flight left on time and my bags arrived.