Kenya Aviation Workers Begin Strike, Raising Fresh Risk of Airport Disruptions

Aviation workers have gone on strike at three major aviation employers in Kenya, reviving the threat of disruptions at the country's airports barely a month after a government-brokered agreement temporarily halted a similar industrial action.

The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) Secretary General, Moss Ndiema, said union members at the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Jambojet had downed their tools.

Ndiema said the workers would remain on strike until the union's outstanding grievances with the three employers are resolved.

The latest strike follows the collapse of a framework agreement signed on July 27, after Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir brought together KAWU and the four employers named in an earlier strike notice.

The agreement suspended a planned strike involving KCAA, KAA, Kenya Airways and Jambojet and provided a 30-day framework for the parties to negotiate their respective disputes.

According to Ndiema, the union issued a fresh strike notice on Friday after one of the employers failed to engage on outstanding issues.

Dispute over KCAA salary arrears

At KCAA, the union is challenging advice from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) that the authority would not consider backdated salary awards dating back to 2015.

Ndiema claimed KCAA employees have gone without a salary increment since that year and argued that failure to address the arrears does not meet the union's expectations under labour law.

The dispute over the salary adjustments is among the key issues the union wants resolved before workers return to their duties.

KAWU demands action at KAA

At the Kenya Airports Authority, Ndiema accused Managing Director Moses Wekesa of frustrating union activities, including allegedly withholding funds belonging to the union and declining to meet its representatives.

The union leader called for Wekesa's removal from office.

Ndiema also questioned the deployment of National Youth Service personnel at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, although he did not specify the duties the personnel had been assigned.

KAA has yet to publicly respond to the union's latest allegations.

Jambojet union recognition dispute

At Jambojet, the dispute centres on the recognition of KAWU and the treatment of union members.

Ndiema accused the airline of creating what he described as a hostile working environment, declining to onboard newly recruited union members and moving against employees who have assumed union responsibilities.

KAWU has previously maintained that Jambojet refused to sign a recognition agreement despite the union recruiting a majority of unionisable employees.

The matter has been the subject of proceedings before the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

Ndiema said workers would not resume duty until Jambojet recognises the union and the outstanding issues involving the airline, SRC and KAA are addressed.

KAA warns of flight delays

The Kenya Airports Authority issued an advisory in Nairobi on Sunday acknowledging disruptions affecting some departing flights.

“Some departing flights are currently experiencing delays at our airports.”

The authority said it was working with aviation agencies, airlines and other stakeholders to manage the situation and maintain airport operations.

Passengers were advised to confirm their flight status with their respective airlines before travelling to the airport.

KAA apologised for the inconvenience and thanked passengers for their patience.

The authority's advisory did not explicitly attribute the reported delays to the workers' strike.

The renewed industrial action places fresh pressure on Kenya's aviation sector, with the union insisting that a return to work will only happen after substantive progress is made on the outstanding labour disputes.