Operations Slowly Resume at JKIA as Military Officers Take Over
Following aviation workers' strike that entirely paralyzed operations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for the better part of Wednesday morning, normal business is slowly returning at the airport.
This comes after the government deployed military officers from the Kenya Air Force to assist in operations.
Two flights have since departed JKIA after military personnel began manning counters.
The Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airline flights have left the airport 12 hours after aviation workers downed their tools.
Two other flights that had earlier been diverted to Tanzania's Kilimanjaro airport and Mombasa's Moi International Airport have since landed at the JKIA.
“KQ 349 from Khartoum had been diverted to Kilimanjaro. This flight landed in Nairobi at 0517hrs. KQ505 from Accra that had been diverted to Mombasa arrived at 0559hrs,” KQ says in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
Three other flights to London, Amsterdam, and Mumbai are also expected to depart from the JKIA.
On Wednesday, anti-riot police officers engaged in running battles with the striking aviation workers. The officers were forced to lob teargas canisters to disperse them.
The striking employees under the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) are opposing the handover of management of JKIA to loss-making Kenya Airways.
They also accuse the KQ leadership of financial wastage through payment of hefty salaries to senior Polish managers and consultants.
KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema has been arrested, with Transport CS James Macharia labeling the striking workers as criminals and economic saboteurs.
“Nobody has refused to pay your salary, nobody has given a threat that your job is at risk this is therefore malicious, economic sabotage and criminal activity,” Macharia says.
Comments
Kenya Airforce!!! KAF has no…
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Kenya Airforce!!! KAF has no experience running an airport. This is so pathetic. The boy in statehouse shows us once again the lack of thinking that characterizes his administration. Tusker tu!
The proposal is take over of…
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In reply to Kenya Airforce!!! KAF has no… by Jamama (not verified)
The proposal is take over of Airport management by KQ the airport management is owned by shareholders one of the share holders is Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) the majority shares of CBA are owned by Kenyatta family according to reports in the media .this means Kenyatta family will own most shares of the airport authority . this is unethical further more an airline cannot run an airport this will be disadvantageous to other airlines which might threaten to leave flying to Nairobi. If true why can't Kenyatta family build a private airport they have more than enough land . i suggest all aviation workers stay home and let military take over. this is very unfortunate wanting to own Kenya by false pretense next they will buy us as people
This is a family of…
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In reply to The proposal is take over of… by Jamrack Karoki (not verified)
This is a family of rapacious bottom feeders. Very lazy and lacking in imagination or entrepreneurship. Sixty years of stealing public resources and no end in sight.
Huh plan to hand over JKIA…
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Huh plan to hand over JKIA to loss making Kenya Airways which has been paying hefty salaries to some white dudes who are clearly not delivering what they promised. Then a rumor that the Kenyatta family want to take over Kenya Airways when it is privatized? then a parking lot belonging to KQ in London was sold off in 2016?Beginning to wonder who of the two..Uhuru and Ruto is more corrupt. Uhuru is just jealous Ruto is rivaling him 😁. In addition, Rutos thieving ways are too "crude" unlike him (Uhuru) who has learnt the best from the corrupt in the West.
Why this Craze about …
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Why this Craze about 'Wazungu' Managers? All the Kenyatta Family Businesses are run by White People, and he is exporting this mentality, that only White men can do a good job, to Kenya Airways. To do this, he has to ignore the fact that when KQ was making huge profits, and being voted the best Airline flying to Africa, it was being Managed by a black Kenyan Maasai. Titus Naikuni.
@SettledNomad-Hats off to…
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In reply to Why this Craze about … by Settled Nomad (not verified)
@SettledNomad-Hats off to what you have said. This white man worshipping especially white men who can not manage an airline is an insult to all Kenyans. Kenyans I believe can do it. They just don't have to come from the ruling thieving club.
Just after launching direct…
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Just after launching direct flights..+ 254 top Leadership is heading the wrong direction...No way KQ can manage int. Airport.Primitive idea Period.
@Romeo23, I always wondered…
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In reply to Just after launching direct… by Romeo23 (not verified)
@Romeo23, I always wondered about the rationale behind the decision to fly directly to New York. Was it prestige or business? If it was prestige, they were spot on. NY is the largest, and oldest City in US. If it was business, going where most of their customers are, such as Dallas, Atlanta, and Boston, would make more economic sense.
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES is…
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In reply to @Romeo23, I always wondered… by Settled Nomad (not verified)
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES is flying direct from addis - washington since a long time and it s weaker economically than Kenya but Kenya money lands in private pockets . Now KQ want to stop the nbo- nyk flight because of lack of passangers . they have no patience to run it at a lower rate for a couple of months as a marketing proposal . Hefty salaries and theft of course . Kenya is doomed and Now failed KQ to take airport biz aim is to continue stealing . Odinga has joined the league we have no opposition but words from Raila without meaning - why did he join uhuru after keeping kenya hostage last year?????? there is something not right here what what was he bought for?
The proposal is take over of…
Permalink
The proposal is take over of Airport management by KQ the airport management is owned by shareholders one of the share holders is Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) the majority shares of CBA are owned by Kenyatta family according to reports in the media .this means Kenyatta family will own most shares of the airport authority . this is unethical further more an airline cannot run an airport this will be disadvantageous to other airlines which might threaten to leave flying to Nairobi. If true why can't Kenyatta family build a private airport they have more than enough land . i suggest all aviation workers stay home and let military take over. this is very unfortunate wanting to own Kenya by false pretense next they will buy us as people
@Jamrack Karoki, the writing…
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In reply to The proposal is take over of… by Jamrack Karoki (not verified)
@Jamrack Karoki, the writing is on the wall. Revolution is possible in Kenya if these thugs do not change. Kenyans are not fools.
By the way,our leaders…
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By the way,our leaders should know that they won't be safe when they tear this country's economy down! We're tired of corruption & empty threats! We now have a clear clue of who will be revisiting the Hague if it all comes to worst! Peace!
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