Kenya’s Aviation Workers Warn of Total Air Traffic Shutdown Over Pay Dispute

Kenya’s aviation workers have issued a seven-day strike notice, warning that they will shut down all air traffic unless pay and labour disputes with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) are resolved.

The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) announced the notice in Nairobi, saying aircraft would not be allowed to land or depart from Kenyan airports if their demands are ignored. The union said the action would suspend passenger services, cargo operations and regional overflights, effectively closing one of East Africa’s busiest aviation hubs.

KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema accused KCAA of failing to address long-standing staff grievances and of breaching collective bargaining agreements. He said negotiations had broken down after management stated that there were no funds available for salary reviews. According to the union, employees have not received pay increments for more than ten years.

Workers also raised concerns about employment practices at the authority. Ndiema said KCAA continues to hire staff on short-term contracts for roles considered permanent, despite court rulings against the practice. He further criticised what he described as discriminatory medical cover policies, alleging that female employees are insured only as individuals, without cover for newborn children.

Union chairman Walter Ongeri said KCAA had restructured the organisation without consulting workers or their representatives. He claimed that operational staff had been reclassified as managers, weakening collective bargaining. Ongeri added that aviation authorities require sector-specific structures rather than standard civil service models. The union also alleged that some employees had been prevented from joining KAWU, in violation of constitutional rights.

The union said it would proceed with industrial action unless KCAA presents what it described as a realistic proposal within seven days. Ndiema warned that the strike could extend to workers at Kenya Airways, Swissport and other aviation service providers, grounding operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and other airports nationwide.

Employees also warned that unresolved grievances and low morale could affect aviation safety standards. By the time of reporting, neither KCAA nor the Ministry of Transport had issued a public response.