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Partial operations had resumed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by 7am on Wednesday, following a disruptive strike by unionised airport workers. According to a media statement issued by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the strike which began earlier in defiance of a court order, caused significant delays and confusion for both passengers and airlines.
In a statement, KAA Managing Director Henry Ocoye confirmed that efforts were underway to fully restore services. KAA advised passengers to contact their airlines to confirm the status of their flights, as disruptions could still impact schedules.
Kenya’s largest airport descended into chaos in the early hours of Wednesday morning after employees went on strike over a planned takeover by an Indian company, Adani. The standoff left passengers stranded, both domestic and international, as staffers protested the deal with the mysterious Indian company. As the strike began, social media images showed a swarm of passengers attempting to retrieve their luggage at JKIA.
The plan to lease the airport to India’s Adani Group for 30 years in exchange for a USD 1.85 billion investment has sparked outrage. Critics claim the plan will result in job losses for local employees and deprive taxpayers of future airport profits. Freight and passenger fees from JKIA account for more than 5% of Kenya’s GDP.
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The Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission obtained a delay from the High Court on Monday, claiming that the agreement lacked “transparency. Kenya’s government has defended the deal as necessary to refurbish JKIA.
JKIA is one of Africa’s busiest hubs, handling 8.8 million passengers and 380,000 tonnes of cargo in 2022-23, but is often hit by power outages and leaking roofs. Adani would add a second runway and upgrade the passenger terminal, according to the Kenya Airport Authority.
