The strike by Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) workers has been called off following a deal between the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) and the government.
This has been confirmed by Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, union leader Moss Ndiema, and Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) head Francis Atwoli.
Consequently, normal operations are expected to resume at JKIA and other major airports in Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret that witnessed massive disruptions on Wednesday.
The government has agreed under the deal to permit thorough scrutiny of the documents related to the proposed 30-year lease deal of JKIA with Indian conglomerate Adani Holdings.
The CS assured that the details of the Adani deal would be tabled in court, where the government faces a lawsuit, to make it transparent and understandable to the people.
“We will work together and build points of convergence. We have an agreement. We are aware that we have been taken to court. We will now present all the documents to the court so that they ensure the public understands,” said Mr Chirchir.
The agreement, announced by Cotu’s Francis Atwoli, gives the union 10 days to scrutinize the lease documents before the next stakeholder meeting.
“The way forward will be determined by the outcomes of deliberations after 10 days,” Atwoli said.
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The government has also agreed to go for salary negotiations with the union and discuss a new CBA within the next two months.
However, Mr Ndiema was categorical that resumption of duties by the workers did not translate to acceptance of the Adani deal.
“We have not said that we accept Adani,” underscores Ndiema.
The strike on Wednesday paralyzed operations at the airport, paralyzing travel schedules and leaving hundreds of travelers stranded at Entebbe and Kigali airports in Uganda and Rwanda. Besides, Uganda Airlines and RwandAir operate several flights to Nairobi daily.
Although Kenya Airways continued some local and regional flights, including those from Entebbe, other airports like Moi International in Mombasa, Kisumu International, and Eldoret witnessed a complete shutdown.
Local carriers operating within the country, like Jambojet, also had to suspend operations.
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