Kenya strike delays flights at international hub airport

Flights in and out of Kenya’s main airport are being delayed following a planned strike by aviation industry workers, the national airline and airports authority have said.

Departing flights from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – one of Africa’s busiest transport hubs – have been delayed by up to four hours.

Some passengers say they have remained seated inside aircraft for extended periods, as pilots wait for clearance to take off.

In a statement, Kenya Airways said it was experiencing “air traffic control operational delays affecting certain departures and arrivals”. It added that it was working with authorities to minimise disruptions and maintain safe operations.

“Passengers are advised to expect possible schedule adjustments, including delays,” the airline said, while apologising for the inconvenience.

The disruptions follows a warning a week ago by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) of a plan to go on strike over pay and poor working conditions.

KAWU Secretary-General Moss Ndiema told the local Daily Nation news website that the strike had begun at 06:00 local time (03:00 GMT) affecting both passengers and airlines around the country.

“There’s a big backlog. Planes are hardly leaving the airports,” he was quoted as saying.

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) said it had activated contingency plans at the airport and has urged passengers to contact their airlines for updates.

Aviation sector workers blame the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) of stalling salary negotiations, delaying union remittances and discrimination.

They also accuse the authority’s management of showing an unwillingness to resolve labour disputes that have persisted for more than a decade.

Last week, KCAA went to court seeking orders to halt the strike. A labour court judge suspended the action pending further directions due next week.

In a statement on Monday, KCAA said it was actively engaging the relevant parties “in line with applicable labour laws and court directions”.

It added that “in light of the planned strike” it was activating measures to ensure aviation safety and service stability.

Additional reporting by Richard Kagoe

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