Workers at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport began a strike on Wednesday, protesting against an Indian company linked to significant flight cancellations and delays.
The strike, marked by workers blowing plastic trumpets and clashing with police, is directed at a proposed 30-year lease deal with the Adani Group, according to Reuters.
This deal, involving a $1.85 billion investment in airport expansion, has sparked frustration among the workers.
Passengers outside the terminals were left waiting on curbs and luggage trolleys, as departure and arrival boards were turned off.
“It’s very poor,” said one passenger, Ahmed Abdulrahman, recounting a six-hour wait.
“Nobody is coming out to tell us anything, whether we should leave or look for a hotel or something. I have a little child here waiting hungrily,” added Warda Omar, standing next to her child.
TV footage, according to the report captured a police officer hitting a protester with a baton during the strike.
It is however reported that lines at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport began moving again as police took over security checks from the striking staff.
The scale of the strike and its full impact remain unclear, but major regional carriers such as Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and RwandAir reported significant flight cancellations and delays.
The strike has been declared indefinite, adding to ongoing uncertainty and disruption.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union argues that the proposed deal with Adani could result in job losses and an influx of non-Kenyan workers.
The Kenyan government has stated that while the airport is operating above capacity and requires modernization, it is not for sale.
The government has indicated that no decision has been made regarding a potential public-private partnership for upgrading the airport.
The Kenya Airports Authority reported that minimal operations had resumed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
It is said that the Authority is working with relevant parties to normalize the situation and mitigate the impact of the strike.
The strike has also affected workers at regional airports in Kisumu and Mombasa, according to the Nation newspaper.
Recall on Monday, Kenya’s high court temporarily blocked the Adani proposal, which includes plans to build a new runway and upgrade the passenger terminal, to allow time for a judicial review.
