Aviation workers in Kenya have called off a strike that disrupted flights at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi and other airports for two days, after reaching a return-to-work agreement with the government.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) announced Tuesday that its members would resume normal duties immediately following overnight negotiations with the Ministry of Transport, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Jambojet.
The industrial action began Sunday as a go-slow before causing widespread delays and cancellations. Hundreds of passengers were stranded at JKIA, while disruptions also affected Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Eldoret International Airport and Kisumu International Airport.
KAWU Secretary-General Moss Ndiema said the union was calling off the action and asked workers to begin restoring normal operations.
“We are simply calling off our strike action and pleading with our members to begin the process of normalising operations, restoring services,” Ndiema said.
Workers’ grievances
The dispute centers on long-running disagreements over pay, collective bargaining, working conditions and relations between the union and aviation employers.
Under the return-to-work agreement, KAWU and KCAA will resume negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement, with KCAA committing to implement the outcome of those negotiations. Salary discussions will follow guidelines issued by Kenya’s Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
The agreement also provides for the Kenya Airports Authority to remit agency fees owed to the union and includes commitments on the treatment of workers who participated in the industrial action. A separate dispute over union recognition at Jambojet remains subject to a court process.
Reuters reported that the union’s grievances also include the absence of collective bargaining agreements, delayed salary reviews, disputes over union dues and allegations of victimization of union members. The government and union agreed to address outstanding issues, including several suspended CBAs dating back to 2015.
Regional impact
The disruption at JKIA quickly extended beyond Kenya because Nairobi is a major aviation hub for East Africa.
RwandAir, for example, canceled flights WB452 and WB453 on Aug. 31, citing operational constraints affecting air-traffic-control services at JKIA.
Reuters reported that airlines operating in Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Somalia also adjusted schedules during the disruption.
The disruption was particularly relevant to travelers using Nairobi as a connecting point to and from Burundi. Kenya Airways operates the Nairobi-Bujumbura route, making JKIA an important transit point for passengers traveling between Burundi and destinations beyond Kenya.
Kenya Airways has warned passengers that delays could continue as airlines work through the backlog created during the strike. The airline advised travelers to confirm their flight status before going to the airport.
Strike ends, but underlying dispute remains
The agreement has restored airport operations, but it does not immediately resolve the broader labor dispute.
The union’s return to work follows another period of industrial unrest in Kenya’s aviation sector, with workers continuing to press for improved remuneration, employment conditions and collective bargaining rights. The latest action also follows a similar disruption earlier in the year.
For travelers, authorities and airlines are now focused on clearing delayed flights and returning schedules to normal after two days of disruption.
