Tuesday night, when aviation personnel formally put down their tools, long lines were seen at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) called for a walkout on August 12, 2024, in response to the proposed lease of JKIA, Kenya’s premier airport, to the Indian corporation Adani Group.
In the notice of strike, KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema cited concerns that the JKIA-Adani agreement will result in a large-scale layoff, the hiring of foreign labor, and poor working conditions.
Asserting their ineptitude and mishandling the transaction, the aviation workers also demanded the resignation of three senior managers and the Board of Directors of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).
In addition, they called for the resignation of two security supervisors from Kenya Airways, citing serious violations such as accusations of sexual harassment, human trafficking, and unfair promotions within the division.
Kenya Airways, or KAA, has not responded significantly to the union’s demands. Due to the industrial action on Tuesday night, aircraft schedules have been disrupted, leaving many travelers stranded at the airport.
KAWU has said that they will only reevaluate the strike in the event that the two KQ managers, the KAA board and managers, and the proposed sale of JKIA are completely shelved.
