Union leaders at Kenya’s biggest international airport have ended their industrial action after talks with the government
Kenya’s aviation workers’ union has called off a strike that grounded flights at the country’s main airport, following negotiations with the government. The industrial action was launched in protest against a deal for India’s Adani Group to carry out modernization and operations at the facility.
The protests at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) caused significant flight delays and cancelations affecting hundreds of passengers. The union had expressed concern over the government’s plan to lease JKIA for 30 years in exchange for $1.8 billion in investment. The deal with Adani Group reportedly includes expanding the airport, building a new runway, and constructing a new passenger terminal. While Nairobi has stressed that the airport is operating above capacity and urgently needs modernization, the Kenya Airport Workers Union feared the deal would lead to job losses and worsen working conditions.
Union secretary-general Moss Ndiema emphasized that while the strike has been called off, his organization will be involved in future discussions.
“We have not accepted Adani,” Ndiema insisted.
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Transport Minister Davis Chirchir assured journalists that the government would prioritize the interests of Kenyan citizens in the plans to upgrade and modernize the country’s main airport.
Hundreds of workers at JKIA staged a demonstration on Wednesday, causing flights to remain grounded and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.