Yesterday, airport workers halted operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and airports in Mombasa, Eldoret, and Kisumu. The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) organized the strike to oppose the proposed lease of JKIA, East Africa’s busiest airport, to India’s Adani Group.
The strike stranded thousands of passengers as workers stopped services, demanding transparency in the deal. They criticized the government for excluding them from discussions and providing incomplete documents.
The strike ended after Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir led a meeting with key stakeholders, including KAWU, Kenya Airways, and Kenya Airports Authority (KAA). The union received 10 days to review the deal documents before another meeting.
KAWU stressed that they have not approved the Adani deal. The government agreed to present the documents in court for public scrutiny and to begin salary negotiations with the union within two months.
The strike caused significant disruptions, with passengers missing flights and important appointments. Many supported the workers’ demands for transparency and criticized the government’s handling of the situation.
Operations at Kisumu, Mombasa, and Eldoret airports also came to a standstill due to the strike.
