Court Suspends Planned Nationwide Aviation Strike Set for Friday

The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi has temporarily stopped a nationwide aviation workers' strike that had been planned for Friday, 24 July. 

The court issued interim orders preventing the industrial action until it hears the case. The orders were granted on Thursday after employers filed urgent applications, arguing that the strike would severely disrupt airport operations across the country. 

The court restrained the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), its officials, members and representatives from calling, organising, promoting or taking part in the planned strike until the application is heard and determined. According to the court order, the injunction applies to the industrial action outlined in the union's strike notice dated 20 July 2026. 

The order states that KAWU and anyone acting on its behalf are barred from implementing or giving effect to the strike while the case remains before the court.

Before the ruling, KAWU had maintained that the strike would proceed unless employers addressed several long-standing concerns. These included the delayed conclusion of a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, which has remained unresolved since 2015. 

The union also cited concerns over stagnant salaries, human resource policies and the deployment of National Youth Service officers at airports, arguing that the move affected the roles of aviation workers. The planned strike was expected to involve employees of the Kenya Airports Authority, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, airlines and ground handling companies. 

With Jomo Kenyatta International Airport serving more than 40 passenger airlines and 25 cargo carriers, the industrial action was expected to disrupt both domestic and international flights. Travellers had anticipated delays, cancellations and long queues if the strike had gone ahead.

Employers told the court that the proposed strike posed serious risks to aviation services and asked for urgent intervention. The court certified the matter as urgent, issued interim orders and directed the union to file its response before the inter partes hearing.