Hundreds of workers at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), have gone on strike to protest a planned 30-year lease to India’s Adani Group, grounding flights and stranding passengers.
The strike, led by the Kenya Airport Workers Union, began at midnight on Tuesday and continued into yesterday.
The workers are objecting to the $1.85 billion deal, which they say will lead to job losses, and worsen employment conditions. Critics also argue that the takeover will deny taxpayers future profits from the airport, which contributes over 5 percent to Kenya’s GDP.
The Union leader, Moses Ndiema addressed workers at the airport, saying, “The strike is on, and all shifts have been suspended, saying Adani must go and it is not optional.” The workers plan to continue striking until the deal is dropped.
The Kenya Airports Authority is working to normalize operations and has urged passengers to confirm flight status with their airlines.
The Secretary-General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions, Francis Atwoli, said the strike could have been avoided if the government had listened to workers’ concerns. The strike has caused disruptions to flights, leaving passengers stranded. The government has defended the deal, saying it will bring in needed investment in the country and modernize the airport. However, workers and critics remain opposed to the takeover.
The High Court temporarily halted the implementation of the deal until a case filed by the Law Society and the Kenya Human Rights Commission is heard.
