Jomo Kenyatta Airport Could Face Major Disruptions as Union Threatens Strike
Travelers flying in or out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport should brace themselves. Starting Tuesday, February 17, operations at Kenya’s busiest airport could hit a serious snag. The Kenya Airport Workers Union (KAWU) is moving forward with industrial action after talks with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) stalled.
Negotiations had a strict seven-day window, but as the Monday deadline passes, it seems no middle ground was found.
Union Sounds the Alarm
On Saturday, February 14, KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema made it clear that the union is ready to mobilize. “Industrial action is 99 per cent as we speak, and we are not asking for impossible things; we are not asking for wealth or richness. For an employee whose pay has not been reviewed for the past 12 or 15 years, how do you expect them to live?” he said.
It’s not just about salaries. Ndiema stressed that the union is pushing for several key reforms: implementing Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) properly, reviewing long-standing wages, and ensuring contract staff are brought under pensionable terms.
A One-Week Countdown
Ndiema also issued a stark warning to management. If employees in grades four and five aren’t recognized for union representation and a CBA isn’t finalized within a week after Monday, a strike schedule will be announced.
“We are determined to deliver a CBA in one week if management accepts that those grades are unionisable. But if they continue to place barriers in our way, we are prepared to act,” he said.
The Dispute Spreads Across Aviation Entities
The unrest isn’t limited to one organization. Workers from Kenya Airports Authority, KCAA, and Kenya Airways are all involved. Union leaders argue that employers have ignored court directives on contract conversions and proper union recognition.
A critical sticking point is a court order that requires long-serving contract staff to be moved to permanent and pensionable positions by December 31, 2025. Ndiema slammed management for dragging their feet or appealing, despite prior agreements in court and at the Ministry of Labour.
“These are court orders. They must be obeyed. You cannot agree in court and later disown the agreement,” he said firmly.
Preparations Are Underway
Reports indicate that at least 70 employees are eligible for permanent employment under the court ruling. While discussions with management continue behind the scenes, the union is making it clear: preparations for action are moving fast.
“So to anybody and everybody who cares, we are going to have a tumultuous week. I just want to ask you to prepare; it could be today, it could be tomorrow, it could be the day after, it could have been yesterday, maybe, just prepare,” Ndiema warned.
Travelers and aviation stakeholders are being urged to stay alert and make alternative arrangements as tensions rise at the heart of Kenya’s aviation sector.
Also Read: Gachagua Responds to Ruto ‘Petty Thief’ Claims with Land Grabbing Accusations
Jomo Kenyatta Airport Could Face Major Disruptions as Union Threatens Strike