Hundreds of travellers are stranded at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as aviation workers staged a go-slow in protest against proposed plans to lease the airport to Indian company Adani Enterprise.
On Tuesday evening, the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) accused the government of not showing goodwill after their last series of meetings regarding their demands stating that they will proceed with their planned strike starting at midnight of Wednesday, September 11, 2024.
KAWU had earlier issued a strike notice on August 12, 2024, but they later put it on hold to allow talks with the government to find an amicable solution.
KAWU’s strike notice
On August 12, 2024, the union issued a seven-day strike notice to KAA management.
In the notice, KAWU is demanding the immediate resignation of the entire Board of Directors over the intended lease of JKIA to Adani Airport Holdings of India while they should have exercised prudence and accountability as the custodians of the national asset on behalf of Kenyans.
“Formally notify you that all unionise employees of Kenya Airways and Kenya Airports Authority shall go on strike after the expiry of seven (7) days from today, 12th August 2024,” the KAWU strike notice reads in part.
“For Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), this action is necessitated by your failure to heed our demands conveyed via our three letters dated 6th August 2024 which demanded the immediate resignation of the entire Board of Directors for their show of incompetence in presiding over the unlawful intended sale of JKIA to Adani Airport Holdings of India while they should have exercised prudence and accountability as the custodians of this national strategic asset on behalf of Kenyans.”
The Union also demanded the immediate resignation of the KAA officials on account of their inability to hold public office.
“We also demanded your immediate resignation and that of the General Manager of Human Resource Development, Mr. Anthony Njagi, and the General Manager of Engineering, Mr Meshack Ochieng Otwaro on account of your inability to hold public office due to incompetence and questionable integrity as demonstrated by the unprofessional and unlawful manner in which you are orchestrating the illegal sale of JKIA to Adani Group of India, your undying appetite for impunity, and disrespect of the rule of law, among others,” KAWU strike notice reads.
Request to call off strike
On Thursday, August 15, 2024, Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Alfred Mutua held a meeting with the KAWU officials seeking to find an amicable solution.
“Through constructive engagement and open communication, I am confident that we can address the concerns of aviation workers without disrupting the critical services at JKIA. The willingness of KAWU to consider dialogue is a positive step forward,” Mutua said.
“In our meeting with the Kenya Aviation Workers Union, I emphasized the importance of suspending the planned strike to allow for constructive dialogue. We are committed to finding a solution that protects jobs and ensures the smooth operation of JKIA.”
