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Sandra Sonko laments after spending 4 hours inside plane as JKIA strike delays her flight
31st August, 2026 01:07 PM
Thicky Sandra, the daughter of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, has opened up about a frustrating travel ordeal after spending four hours inside a plane without taking off as an aviation workers’ strike disrupted operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Speaking in a brief TikTok live with Vindee on the morning of Monday, August 31, 2026, Sandra said she had been inside the aircraft since 6:00 am as she prepared to travel back to the United Kingdom, but the flight had remained grounded amid the industrial action affecting operations at the airport.
“I have been in this plane since 6 in the morning, and we have just been inside. I am going back to the UK. There is a strike here at the airport,” Sandra said.
Sandra appeared visibly tired as she explained that passengers had remained seated inside the aircraft while waiting for clearance for the flight to begin moving.
She noted that the prolonged delay had also affected the services normally offered to passengers aboard the aircraft, joking that they had not been served tea or champagne because the plane had not yet started moving.
“They are not giving us tea or champagne because the plane has not started moving. They are waiting for us to start moving. I am tired,” she said.
Despite the frustrating delay, Sandra appeared to remain composed as she showed part of the cabin, revealing that she was travelling in first class.
“But as you can see, everyone is seated. I am in first class and everyone has their room,” she added.
Germany option
While engaging her friend Streamer Vindee, who is in Germany, Sandra also spoke about her travel options, revealing that she could potentially travel to Germany using her visa instead.
She, however, appeared unimpressed by the prospect, saying that she had visited Germany several times and found its nightlife less exciting than other destinations.
“Vendee, you are in Germany. With my visa, I can come to Germany. But Germany is a bit boring. I have been there several times, and their nightlife is boring. I was in Berlin,” she said.
JKIA strike
Sandra’s ordeal came as aviation workers at JKIA and other major airports across Kenya entered the second day of an industrial action that has disrupted air travel and left thousands of passengers facing prolonged delays and cancellations.
The industrial action has affected JKIA in Nairobi as well as Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Kisumu International Airport and Eldoret International Airport, with flight operations experiencing significant disruption.
Several flights have reportedly faced delays running into two or three hours, while others have been cancelled, leaving passengers stranded at airports as airlines and airport authorities struggle to restore normal operations.
Regional carriers, including Kenya Airways and RwandAir, have been among those affected, with travellers forced to contend with uncertainty over departure times and alternative arrangements.
The disruption has been particularly difficult for passengers whose flights were scheduled during the early hours of the morning, with some travellers reportedly spending the night inside airport terminals as they waited for their journeys to resume.
The strike followed the collapse of a 30-day framework agreement that had been brokered by the Ministry of Roads and Transport in July following earlier labour disputes.
The union has also raised concerns over management decisions, staff recruitment practices and the use of temporary or external personnel during previous disruptions, including National Youth Service volunteers.
Author
Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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