Update on JKIA Operations and Labor Dispute
NAIROBI, Kenya – On September 2nd, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) announced that operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) were not disrupted despite a protest by some staff members from the night shift. The authority clarified that the protest involved only a portion of the night shift workers.
Following the protest, KAA’s Acting Managing Director, Henry Ogoye, met with the aviation workers’ union to address their grievances. He urged the union to submit an official memorandum outlining their concerns, which KAA committed to review and address in due course.
Earlier, on September 1st, the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) announced a temporary postponement of their planned strike, initially set for Sunday, September 3rd. This decision came after the government provided KAWU with lease documents regarding the proposed leasing of JKIA to the Indian firm, Adani Group. KAWU had demanded these documents as part of their concerns over the leasing agreement.
KAWU Secretary General Moses Ndiema confirmed that the strike was delayed for seven days to allow the union to thoroughly review the concession documents. The union had initially planned to strike from August 11th, citing a lack of public participation and exclusion of its members from discussions about the leasing deal.
KAWU is now reviewing the documents to ensure all concerns are addressed before making further decisions about their next course of action. We will keep our clients informed of any significant developments regarding JKIA operations.