Kenya Aviation Workers Threaten New Strike as Holiday Travel Looms at JKIA

Kenya's aviation sector faces a looming crisis as the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has issued a strike notice amid claims of discrimination and inadequate compensation.

The union's announcement comes just four months after KAWU reached a return-to-work agreement following a previous dispute that had significantly disrupted airport operations. Long queues have begun to form at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as workers from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) have already halted operations in anticipation of the impending strike.

This escalation threatens to affect travel during the holiday season, a peak period for air travel and tourism in the region. The last strike resulted in thousands of travellers being stranded at major airports, further exposing the sector’s vulnerability to labour disputes.

KAWU Secretary General Moses Ndiema indicates that the union will announce the strike's commencement date following a member meeting scheduled for December 21. He cautions that without meaningful progress in negotiations, the strike could escalate into “the mother of all strikes.”

The union accuses the government of failing to uphold commitments made in the earlier return-to-work agreement. Despite multiple meetings, KAWU claims there has not been significant engagement from government representatives, further heightening tensions.

Additionally, the situation is complicated by ongoing discussions between the government and Adani Group Holdings regarding the management of JKIA. KAWU had previously issued an ultimatum for the public disclosure of this deal, which has added to the current atmosphere of discord.

As developments unfold, both the aviation industry and travellers are preparing for possible disruptions, with the outcome of the upcoming negotiations critical to averting a full-scale strike.