Flights in Kenya began returning to normal on Tuesday after aviation workers ended a two-day strike that disrupted operations at the country’s major airports and left thousands of passengers stranded. The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) called off the industrial action after signing a return-to-work agreement with the government, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and Jambojet. Workers were directed to resume their duties immediately.
The strike, which began on Sunday, affected Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi as well as airports in Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret. Flights were delayed or cancelled, with the disruption also affecting regional routes to countries including Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Somalia and Mauritius. The union’s grievances included stalled collective bargaining agreement negotiations, salary reviews, disputes over union agency fees and concerns about the use of volunteer workers. Under the new agreement, negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement will resume, while outstanding agency fees owed to the union will be addressed.
Kenya’s Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the government had helped broker the agreement and acknowledged the significant economic impact of the disruption. JKIA is Kenya’s main international gateway and an important hub for tourism, trade and regional travel. Although the strike has ended, airlines warned that passengers should expect further delays as they clear the backlog. Kenya Airways said it expects normal scheduled operations to resume by Wednesday, September 2, while affected passengers can reschedule without additional charges. The latest dispute is the second major aviation workers’ strike in Kenya this year, highlighting continuing labour tensions in the country’s aviation sector.
