Passengers at Kenya’s main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), were left stranded on Wednesday after aviation workers went on strike to protest a proposed takeover by India’s Adani Group. The strike, led by the Kenyan Aviation Workers Union, began at midnight and has caused widespread disruption to flights, leaving long queues of frustrated passengers outside the airport, some sitting on their luggage as cars lined up to access the facility.
The union announced the strike will continue until the government abandons its plan to lease the airport to Adani Group for 30 years in exchange for a $1.85 billion investment. “The strike is on and all shifts have been suspended,” said union leader Moses Ndiema, rallying workers at the airport. “Adani must go; that is not optional.”
Kenya Airways has warned passengers of delays and potential flight cancellations as the strike continues. Critics of the deal fear it will result in job losses for local workers and deprive taxpayers of future profits from the airport, which contributes more than five percent of Kenya’s GDP through freight and passenger fees.
The Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission managed to secure a temporary delay from the High Court earlier in the week, citing a lack of transparency in the deal. However, the government has defended the plan, arguing that it is necessary to upgrade the aging airport infrastructure, which has been plagued by power outages and leaking roofs.
As one of Africa’s busiest hubs, JKIA handled 8.8 million passengers and 380,000 metric tons of cargo in 2022–23. The proposed deal with Adani Group includes adding a second runway and upgrading the passenger terminal to improve operations.
Don’t forget to like, comment in the box below, and share on all our social media platforms. For more updates on international news, local news, business, elections, sports, and exciting discussions, tune in to Orange FM 1079.
