Prosper Okoye
A strike by aviation workers has disrupted flights and air traffic control operations at Kenya’s main airport, causing delays for passengers across the country.
Kenya’s national carrier, Kenya Airways, said services were affected at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, one of Africa’s busiest aviation hubs. It warned travellers of possible schedule changes and advised them to check their flight status before going to the airport.
“We are currently experiencing air traffic control operational delays at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, affecting certain departures and arrivals,” the airline said in a post on X.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe disruption follows a strike notice issued last week by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), which said its members would down tools from Monday over unresolved grievances, including a stalled employment agreement. The union had threatened what it described as a “total shutdown of Kenyan airspace” if its demands were not met.
Passengers reported long waits on the runway after boarding planes at the Nairobi airport. One user on X complained of two to three-hour delays being announced only after passengers had taken their seats.
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The impact was also felt at other airports. Senator Boni Khalwale said travellers had been stranded for hours at Kisumu Airport.
The latest action comes a year after workers at the Nairobi airport went on strike over government plans to award a contract to Adani Group to expand the facility, warning it could lead to job losses and reduced public revenue. Kenya later cancelled the deal, citing corruption allegations after the company’s chairman, Gautam Adani, was indicted in the United States.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
