NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s main aviation union announced on Monday that it will launch a strike from early next week in protest of a proposed agreement between the Kenyan government and India’s Adani Group to develop the country’s largest airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The union claims the deal could lead to significant job losses and the displacement of Kenyan workers in favor of foreign labor.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) issued a seven-day strike notice, condemning the proposed deal as an “unlawful intended sale of JKIA to Adani Airport Holdings of India.”
The union has also voiced concerns that the deal represents a backdoor attempt at privatization, threatening the national sovereignty of Kenya’s key infrastructure.
Moss Ndiema, the union’s secretary general, emphasized the union’s readiness to strike unless the government completely abandons the deal. “We shall reconsider our intention to engage in industrial action… only if the Adani Airport Holdings Limited’s deal is abandoned in its entirety,” Ndiema stated.
The proposed deal, which has yet to be finalized, includes plans for Adani to add a second runway at JKIA and upgrade the passenger terminal.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed on Monday that they had received the union’s strike notice but expressed hope that the situation could be resolved through negotiation. “We are optimistic that a resolution can be reached through negotiation,” said KAA spokesperson Angela Mumo.
Kenya Airways (KQ), which operates out of JKIA and could be heavily impacted by the strike, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The airline is already grappling with financial difficulties and operational disruptions, and a strike could exacerbate these challenges.
The looming strike follows months of public outcry and protests against the proposed deal, led by a youth-led movement that has raised concerns over the lack of transparency surrounding the negotiations.
Critics argue that the deal could lead to foreign control over a strategic national asset and result in job losses for Kenyan workers.
The strike threat has escalated tensions surrounding the deal, which also comes at a time when JKIA is experiencing a surge in passenger traffic, handling 7.5 million passengers last year.
The union and other critics warn that proceeding with the deal could have long-term negative impacts on Kenya’s aviation industry and national security.
Source: Reuters
