Hundreds of travellers have been left stranded at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi following a strike by aviation workers that disrupted operations across the country.
Passengers scheduled to fly through Kenya’s busiest airport spent Sunday night in airport lobbies as they waited for airlines to provide information on their delayed journeys.
By Monday morning, some airlines had started arranging hotel accommodation and transfers for affected passengers as efforts continued to manage the disruption.
The disruption followed industrial action by members of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), who began a strike on Sunday and introduced go-slows at airports across the country.
The workers are seeking improved welfare, better working conditions and the implementation of employment benefits that they say had previously been agreed upon.
The industrial action significantly affected airport operations, with services at both Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and Moi International Airport in Mombasa brought close to a standstill.
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 their grievances involving the three institutions are addressed and resolved.
The disruption has consequently left airlines and passengers grappling with delays as negotiations over the workers’ demands continue.
