JKIA Terminal II to be Closed for US First Lady Jill Biden’s Arrival and Departure

Terminal II at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) will be closed for six hours on Friday to facilitate the arrival of US First Lady Jill Biden.

Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) in a notice to airport stakeholders said it will clear the terminal from 11 am to 6 pm, adding that the operation was sanctioned by security agencies.

The terminal will similarly be cleared from 6 am to 6 pm on Sunday to facilitate the VVIP departure.

“This is therefore to advise you to relocate your operations to Terminal I within the stipulated time period to allow smooth facilitation of the VVIP and operations,” KAA said.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), however, ruled out disruptions on the Kenyan airspace during Mrs. Biden’s visit.

The US first lady will arrive in the country on Friday for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening partnerships and advancing shared priorities between the two countries.

Her visit will feature discussions on women empowerment and food security, according to the US embassy in Nairobi.

“Dr. Biden’s engagements will focus on the empowerment of women and youth, efforts to address food insecurity, and promoting our Shared democratic values,” the US Embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.

The embassy said the visit is a follow-up of the US-Africa Leader’s Summit in November 2022 where Mrs. Biden hosted a two-day program with spouses of African leaders including Kenyan First Lady Rachel Ruto.