Operations at major airports across the country were disrupted on Monday after workers from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) went on strike over terms of service, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
The industrial action hit the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) hardest, where long queues were witnessed as airlines delayed, rescheduled or reorganised flights to manage the disruption. Travellers were forced to wait for hours as airport staff struggled to clear backlogs.
The strike, spearheaded by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), is rooted in grievances over the implementation of new human resource instruments. Union officials claim the changes were introduced by both the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Kenya Airports Authority without adequate consultation with workers.
KAWU Secretary General Moses Ndiema warned that the situation could escalate into a full-scale strike from Tuesday if concerns are not addressed. He said workers from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) are expected to join their KCAA counterparts, potentially paralysing airport operations nationwide.
According to the union, the contested HR policies could affect employees’ salaries and allegedly bar some workers from joining unions, among other concerns.
In response, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said it remains open to negotiations and assured airlines and the public that critical aviation safety and air navigation services remain operational despite the strike.
Separately, the Kenya Airports Authority stated that contingency measures had been activated to mitigate the impact and avert a full-blown crisis at the country’s airports.
The unfolding standoff now places pressure on both sides to reach a swift resolution to prevent further disruption in the aviation sector.