Workers at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ended their day-long strike on Wednesday, following government assurances that any decision to lease the airport to India’s Adani Group would require union approval.
The strike, which disrupted flight schedules and delayed hundreds of passengers, was sparked by concerns that the proposed 30-year lease could lead to job cuts. The Adani Group, led by billionaire Gautam Adani, has pledged to invest $1.85 billion to expand the airport, a plan that has sparked fears among workers about potential layoffs and the introduction of foreign labor.
Amid the protest, workers blew plastic trumpets and clashed with police, with TV footage showing an officer striking a protester. Despite the tension, Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that air traffic control remained operational, although passengers outside the terminals experienced long delays.
Francis Atwoli, Secretary General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions, announced that both the government and the Kenya Aviation Workers Union had agreed to review the lease documents within 10 days. He emphasized that the union’s approval would be required for any final agreement and assured workers that no one involved in the strike would face disciplinary action.
Moss Ndiema, Secretary General of the aviation workers’ union, confirmed the strike had ended. Meanwhile, Adani Group has not commented on the situation.
The Kenyan government has stressed that the airport is operating above capacity and requires modernization but clarified that it is not for sale. While the High Court temporarily blocked the Adani proposal earlier in the week to allow for a judicial review, the discussions around the public-private partnership remain ongoing.
