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Aviation strike causes major flight delays in Kenya
Flights at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport faced delays of up to four hours on Monday after aviation workers began a strike over wages and working conditions, officials confirmed.
Disruptions reported at East Africa's busiest hub
Passengers at Kenya's primary international gateway-one of the continent's most active airports-experienced significant hold-ups, with some stranded inside aircraft for hours awaiting clearance. Kenya Airways acknowledged "air traffic control operational delays" affecting both departures and arrivals, though it assured the public that safety protocols remained in place.
The airline urged travelers to anticipate schedule changes and apologized for the inconvenience.
Union confirms strike action after failed negotiations
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) launched the strike at 06:00 local time (03:00 GMT), citing stalled salary talks and persistent labor disputes with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). Union Secretary-General Moss Ndiema told the Daily Nation that operations nationwide were severely impacted, with "a big backlog" and few planes departing.
A Kenyan senator, Boni Khalwale, shared his frustration on social media after abandoning his flight from Kisumu to travel by road instead. "This KCAA strike is really biting!" he wrote on X.
"Passengers at JKIA are currently experiencing the true meaning of patience and character development. If you have a flight today, just carry a mattress because you might be living at the airport."
Kenyan traveler on X
Authorities activate contingency plans amid legal battle
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) said it had implemented emergency measures to manage the disruption and advised passengers to check with airlines for updates. Meanwhile, the KCAA sought a court injunction last week to block the strike, and a labor judge temporarily suspended the action pending a hearing next week.
In a statement, the KCAA said it was "actively engaging relevant parties in line with applicable labor laws and court directions" while rolling out measures to maintain aviation safety and service stability.
Workers accuse authority of decade-long disputes
Aviation staff allege the KCAA has repeatedly delayed salary negotiations, withheld union remittances, and failed to address long-standing grievances. Union representatives claim the authority's management has shown little willingness to resolve issues that have persisted for over 10 years.
Nairobi airport's regional importance
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport serves as a critical transit point between Africa and the rest of the world, handling approximately nine million passengers in 2025, according to Kenyan authorities.
