Travellers board Kenya Airways after receiving gift hampers on December 2, 2025
Christmas came early for passengers flying out of Nairobi on Tuesday after Coca-Cola and Kenya Airways teamed up to give travellers unexpected festive gifts at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The activation targeted passengers heading to Mombasa, who were welcomed at the terminal with Christmas-themed hampers.
The activity briefly transformed one of the airport’s busiest corridors into a small pocket of holiday cheer as travellers queued for boarding.
The initiative, organisers said, was designed to bring the holiday spirit to a place where most travellers do not expect it.
“We wanted to bring the magic of Christmas to a place where people don’t always expect it; the airport,” the Director of Frontline Marketing at Coca-Cola East and Central Africa, Monique Katana, said.
Katana said the festive season sees thousands of Kenyans travelling to reunite with family and friends, making JKIA an ideal location to create moments of joy.
“Together with Kenya Airways, we saw an opportunity to welcome passengers with warmth, kindness, and festive cheer from the moment they step into the terminal,” she said.
She added that the activation reflects the message behind this year’s Coca-Cola Christmas campaign.
“This year’s Coca-Cola Christmas message reminds us that the world needs more Santas; people who give, care, and spread kindness in both big and small ways. Today’s activation brings that message to life,” Katana said.
The surprise giveaway was part of a wider Christmas campaign that Coca-Cola is rolling out across the country.
Central to it is the Coca Cola Caravan, which has already travelled through Western Kenya, the Rift Valley and Nairobi.
The caravan is continuing its route across other regions, stopping in towns, markets and residential areas to encourage Kenyans to connect during the festive season.
The campaign theme, “The world needs more Santa,” aims to inspire people to embrace goodwill through simple acts.
According to the company, the goal this year is to highlight ordinary Kenyans who show care and generosity in their communities, especially during a season associated with family gatherings, travel and celebration.
Through the caravan, Coca Cola is distributing a range of local goods including soda, chapati flour, fish, chicken and goats as a way of recognising the warmth of Kenyan culture and the everyday traditions that define the holiday period.
The caravan’s visits typically create colourful, short-lived spectacles in public places, drawing crowds for photos, music and giveaways.
The company said these stops are meant to remind Kenyans to slow down, reconnect and appreciate small moments during the holidays.
The focus on local products is also intended to reflect the diversity of Kenyan traditions at Christmas, from food to community gatherings.
For travellers who happened to be at JKIA on Tuesday
morning, the early Christmas activation offered a brief but memorable break
from the usual airport routine of queues, security checks and crowded boarding
gates.
Many showed their joy as they received gift hampers while boarding and danced to the lively choir that entertained them with Christmas carols.
