Acting Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Managing Director Dr. Mohamud M. Gedi was denied a U.S. visa in a dramatic move.
This has impacted his operations at large.
He confirmed the incident and said the move came as a surprise.
The denial of the visa was made under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), ahead of a high-level aviation security meeting scheduled with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The refusal comes amid unconfirmed allegations involving terrorism, corruption, and narcotics—claims that remain under administrative review.
The visa denial has sparked speculation both in Nairobi and internationally, raising concerns over the vetting processes for high-ranking aviation officials.
This comes amid claims he and top officials at the KAA are involved in a conspiracy to carry out hipped development projects at JKIA and Wilson Airport.
The U.S. government’s increased scrutiny appears to reflect a broader crackdown on corruption and security threats in strategic sectors across Africa.
Kenya’s Ministry of Transport and the KAA are expected to issue formal statements in the coming days.
Kenya’s main airport Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is under scrutiny after it emerged 20 kilograms of cocaine was last month traffic through there. The cocaine was seized at the Heathrow Airport in London. A suspect who had originated JKIA is facing charges in London.
The visa denial was communicated ahead of a scheduled bilateral meeting between Kenyan officials and the Acting TSA Administrator, Ms. Ha Nguyen McNeill, to be held on September 25, 2025, during the 41st ICAO Assembly in Montreal.
The meeting proceeded as planned, but without Dr. Gedi’s participation.
A letter from TSA Attaché for East and South Africa, Mr. Edwin Falcon Jr., confirmed that while the visa application for Dr. Gedi was submitted with full documentation, it was refused for “additional administrative processing.” Under U.S. law, visa applicants must demonstrate full eligibility, and the burden of proof lies with the applicant under INA 291.
Sources familiar with the case have indicated that Dr. Gedi’s application may have been flagged due to concerns involving national security and integrity-related issues, including suspected ties to terrorist networks, corruption in aviation procurement, and illicit narcotics activities.
No formal charges have been filed against Dr. Gedi, and the KAA has yet to issue an official response to the allegations.
Dr. Gedi is a high-profile figure within Kenya’s aviation sector, known for spearheading modernization efforts in air traffic management and security oversight.
Despite the controversy, TSA officials have reiterated their commitment to maintaining strong relations with Kenya and continuing discussions on regional aviation security cooperation.
The meeting agenda included finalizing agreements for the One Stop Security program, advancing a pilot-to-permanent transition of security protocol and U.S. support for African nations’ integration into international aviation safety frameworks.
It also discussed enhancing security infrastructure at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) and Moi International Airport (MBA) through equipment upgrades, expanding training workshops to strengthen Kenya’s AVSEC capabilities and planning a biometric study tour at Frankfurt International Airport.
U.S. officials expressed confidence that Dr. Gedi’s absence would not hinder the goals of the meeting, emphasizing continued collaboration between the two countries.
Meanwhile, diplomatic channels remain open as the U.S. and Kenya reaffirm their commitment to mutual cooperation in aviation safety and security.
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