Nairobi — Tourism Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua says plans are underway to smoothen operations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to avoid harassment of tourists.

While appearing before the Senate, Mutua indicated that focus should be more on marketing Kenya as a tourist destination and not only to charge taxes.

"About the harassment going on in JKIA, it is a real concern, I have spoken with the Minister for Roads and Transport and they are in consultative meetings to make sure the airport is operating at its best capacity," Mutua stated.

"We have taken measures and initiated procedures and changes that would make the airport function in many ways, from physical, operations, visitor reception, to ensure we are the best," he added.

The CS argued that KRA should differentiate items meant for individual use and those for commercial purposes.

"If someone has two phones and you can see they are not packaged for sale, you have no business stopping that person," Mutua added.

On matters wildlife, Mutua said there are plans to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflict.

He said that the government is yet to approve funds for the compensation, but Tana River had already received Ksh.77 million for wildlife attack victims.