The national carrier, Kenya Airways (KQ), has warned travellers of flight delays and possible cancellations in the wake of the strike staged by airport workers on Wednesday.
KQ said that the strike which kicked off on Tuesday night at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, is likely to affect the smooth operations of flights.
“Kenya Airways would like to alert you that due to the action by some JKIA staff, this has resulted in some delays and possible cancellations of some of our flights for both departing and arriving passengers,” KQ said on Wednesday, in morning notice to customers.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) downed their tools on Tuesday night in protest of the controversial plan to lease JKIA to India’s Adani Group for 30 years for a $1.85 billion (Sh242 billion) investment.
JKIA on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning experienced chaotic scenes with passengers stranded amidst a go-slow at the airport’s entry points.
The strike followed a notice issued by KAWU on August 12, where it strongly opposed the proposed leasing of JKIA to the Indian conglomerate.
Moss Ndiema, KAWU Secretary-General, in issuing the notice, raised several concerns that such a deal was likely to see massive layoffs, introduction of foreign workers, and deterioration of working conditions.
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They also wanted the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Board of Directors and three senior managers to go, citing incompetence and mishandling of the leasing agreement.
The strike comes even as the High Court on Monday temporarily blocked the proposed deal by Adani after the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) filed a joint application together with the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).
LSK and KHRC argued that JKIA is a strategic and profitable national asset and the deal is, therefore, irrational and violates the principles of good governance, accountability, transparency, and prudent and responsible use of public money.
The two also told the court on Monday that the country could independently raise the $1.85 billion required to upgrade the airport in the capital Nairobi.
- Why law society, KHRC are right to question Adani deal in court
- JKIA workers’ strike called off after deal with government
In the deal, the Indian firm would upgrade the airport, including the construction of a second runway and a new passenger terminal under a 30-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract.
High Court judge John Chigiti certified the case as urgent and granted a temporary order, suspending the deal pending the determination of the case.
The judge directed the case to be mentioned on October 8, to get a judgment date.
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