JKIA To Launch Airport Taxi App Despite Private-Firms Dominance
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) is preparing to launch its own taxi-hailing app at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
This is aimed at individuals traveling to and from the airport in an attempt to break into the lucrative airport transportation industry, which is currently dominated by established ride-hailing services.
This followed the authority’s request for proposals to create and administer a mobile and web-based taxi platform for airport taxis.
The development will follow the public-private partnership (PPP) concept.
According to the tender announcement, the selected partner will operate the app’s system and pay a portion of the money to KAA.
The tender notice expired on February 25, and Kaa is scheduled to begin development of the application.
State takes on Uber, Bolt with own JKIA taxi-hailing app | Business Daily#FixingTheNationNTV @nationfmke @mariambishar @ericlatiff pic.twitter.com/0nCVoKhq32
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) February 24, 2026
According to sources, the KAA-branded app would first focus on regulated airport taxi reservations, allowing passengers to request vetted, authorized drivers via Android and iOS smartphones, a web portal, or on-site kiosks.
Travellers will also benefit from real-time fare estimations, car monitoring, automated dispatch, and trip notifications.
The program uses location-based technology to construct virtual boundaries around licensed airport taxi ranks, allowing vehicles to operate solely within these zones.
This is designed to improve safety, maintain order, and enforce airport laws by prohibiting taxis from accessing prohibited areas.
The move is also aimed at curbing unauthorised passenger pickups, a persistent challenge at terminal entrances where independent drivers frequently operate, contributing to congestion and raising security concerns.
The tender also signals potential future expansion of the app into a broader airport services hub.
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This includes lounge bookings, duty-free shopping, parking reservations and other features integrated with flight information systems.
KAA aims to ensure the safety of travellers and boost pricing transparency and accountability through the application.
However, thousands of jobs are at risk, especially for those who usually rely on online taxi services for a livelihood and mainly focus on dropping off and picking up travellers at the airport.
Although there is no exact data on the number of riders put at risk by the announcement, JKIA receives around 8.6 million travellers every year, most of whom depend on online riders for movement in and out of the airport.
JKIA To Launch Airport Taxi App Despite Private-Firms Dominance
