Crisis Looms at JKIA and Other Airports as Airport Workers Announce Strike
KAWU maintained that unless urgent intervention is made, the planned industrial action would lead to a total shutdown of Kenya’s airspace...
✨ Key Highlights
A major crisis looms at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and other Kenyan airports as the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has issued a seven-day strike notice. The industrial action threat follows collapsed talks with the government and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) over long-standing grievances including salary increments and unionisation.
- KAWU accused KCAA of unfair labour practices, with some employees reportedly going for over 11 years without a pay review.
- Secretary General Moses Ndiema warned of a complete shutdown of Kenya's airspace, threatening to "ground everything and shut down all Kenyan airports" if demands are not met within the ultimatum.
- The strike would severely disrupt domestic and international flights, impacting JKIA, Kenya's busiest airport, which handles approximately 8.6 million passengers annually.
- The last aviation workers' strike in September 2025 paralysed services for approximately two days before government intervention.
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Aviation Workers Announce Strike After Mediation Talks Collapse - January 2026
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has issued a seven-day strike notice, threatening a nationwide shutdown of aviation operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and other airports. The industrial action follows the collapse of court-ordered mediation talks with the government and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). The union cites long-standing grievances, including an 11-year overdue pay rise and demands for salary increments. In a separate case, the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Kisumu dismissed a claim by 29 Bird Scouts employed by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) who were seeking over Ksh66 million in backdated salaries and allowances.
