Flights Disrupted Across Kenya as Aviation Workers Strike

Flights across Kenya were disrupted on Monday morning after aviation workers began a nationwide strike at 6am, halting operations at major airports and leaving passengers stranded.

The industrial action was called by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (Kawu), which said the stoppage has affected both airlines and travellers. Union Secretary-General Moss Ndiema said departures had slowed significantly, creating a growing backlog of aircraft on the ground.

Kenya Airways issued a public advisory warning passengers to expect delays and possible schedule changes, particularly at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Air traffic control services at the airport were reported to be severely affected.

The strike followed the expiry of a seven-day notice issued last week to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). Kawu had said that workers would withdraw their labour if longstanding concerns were not addressed.

At the centre of the dispute is the union’s demand for permanent and pensionable employment terms. Kawu says the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement expired in 2015 and that attempts to negotiate a new agreement have not succeeded.

Union officials state that KCAA employees have worked for years without a review of salaries, allowances or benefits. In an earlier statement, Kawu accused the authority’s management of failing to engage constructively in resolving issues that have remained unsettled for more than a decade. Ndiema said the decision to strike was taken after negotiations reached an impasse.

JKIA is the busiest airport in East Africa and a key hub for regional travel.