The Unit was started in the year 1974, the first Commandant being Mr. Geoffrey Kinoti, SP.

The reasons which prompted the Government to Post Police officers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport were to provide general Security to the airport, its facilities and aircrafts.

• Protect passengers and their property.
• Control crowds in the airports.
• Collect intelligence.

ROLE OF KENYA AIRPORTS POLICE UNIT

The Unit is a special trained force to be used for all aspects of the Republics Civil aviation security with expert squads in handling incidents of hijackings, detection and disposal of bombs, searching of aircrafts, Passengers and their baggage, investigating of drugs and currency related offences and all other offences prevalent in the aerodromes and airports’ areas.

FUNCTIONS OF KENYA AIRPORTS POLICE UNIT

• The prevention and detection of crime and inquiries into offences against property and person within our Republic’s airports and aerodromes.
• Investigation of claims, complaints and irregularities in conveyance of goods and passengers, lost and found property, missing goods, passenger tickets fraud, etc. within the aerodromes and airport areas.
• The safeguarding generally of all airlines and private aircrafts parked within the apron areas of the Kenya aerodromes and airports.
• Escorts inside and outside Kenya in connection with the transit of valuables like sold and specie, explosives, arms and ammunition, wanted persons by foreign Police forces and accredited authorities and any other items on request from the parties concerned.
• Inquiries into accident within Kenya airports and aerodromes.
• The control of all points of entry into the restricted and controlled access areas and also operation and checking of the Pass system for the staff and vehicles in use within the Kenya aerodromes and airports’ areas.
• The search of passengers, the passenger’s both hand and hold luggage mechanically and/ or manually before boarding or loading into the aircraft particularly when and where there is a threat against an airline or the airport.
• The maintenance of law and order, crowd control within the airport areas and undertaking security duties in accordance with the recommended and established levels of civil aviation security.
• Any other function as may be directed by the Commissioner of Police.

The Kenya airports Police Unit has three Divisions namely; -

(a) Nairobi Airport Police Division
(b) Edoret airports Police Division
(c) Moi Airports Police Division

The Kenya Airport Police Unit is supported by anti - Narcotics Police, Anti-terrorism police and General service unit.

The current Commandant is M/S. BEATRICE NDUTA KIHARA,OGW