Employees of Kenya Airways and Kenya Airports Authority are not pleased with the deal that proposes development of the biggest airport in Kenya, under the Indian company, Adani Airport Holdings. The workers feel that Adani’s investment proposal will result in job losses and may favour and encourage non-Kenyan workers.
Therefore, to express their displeasure and protest against the proposal, the Kenyan Aviation Works Union has called for a seven-day strike starting 19 August, 2024. The strike will lead to disruptions in operations at the main airport of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi.
As per the investment proposal, a second runway will come up at the airport. However, the workers’ union feels that the deal is tantamount to the sale of JKIA to Adani Airport Holdings. The union has conveyed that the workers intend to go ahead with the strike unless and until they are assured that the deal has been done away with in total.
The Kenyan government, however, maintains that the airport is not being sold, and that the deal is just a partnership between the government and Adani to improve the travel hub and bring about much-required upgradation. It was earlier reported that the airport would require about $2 billion for renovation, which appeared too much to afford given the poor financial condition of the government.
The union workers are demanding the resignation of the board of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), while KAA hopes that with negotiations the matter can be amicably resolved.
