Hundreds of passengers found themselves stranded at Kenya's primary airport on Wednesday due to a strike by staff protesting a proposed takeover by an Indian company. The walkout, initiated by the Kenyan Aviation Workers Union at midnight, significantly disrupted operations at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Long lines of passengers formed outside the airport, and traffic congestion was reported as cars attempted to access the area, according to AFP reporters.
The union declared that the strike would persist until the government abandoned its plan to lease the airport to India's Adani Group for 30 years in return for a $1.85-billion investment. "The strike is ongoing, and all shifts have been suspended," union leader Moses Ndiema informed airport workers. "Adani must leave; there is no alternative," he emphasized.
The Kenya Airports Authority announced that "minimal operations" resumed at 7am (0400 GMT), but data from Flight Radar indicated substantial delays and multiple cancellations for flights to and from the airport. Critics argue that the plan to lease JKIA to Adani will result in job losses for local staff and deprive taxpayers of future airport profits. Revenue from freight and passenger fees at the airport constitutes over five percent of Kenya's GDP.
One stranded passenger, Elvis Mushengu, recounted his overnight ordeal. "They closed the doors around midnight," he said. "We're unsure who is conducting the screening or what the procedure is... We haven't slept; we're just exhausted." The Kenyan government has defended the Adani deal, asserting it is essential for the refurbishment of JKIA. Despite being one of Africa's busiest hubs, handling 8.8 million passengers and 380,000 tonnes of cargo in 2022-23, the airport frequently experiences power outages and roof leaks. The Kenya Airports Authority states that Adani plans to construct a second runway and upgrade the passenger terminal.
Tourism is a significant contributor to Kenya's economy, accounting for more than 10 percent of GDP in 2022, according to government figures. The Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission secured a delay on the Adani deal from the High Court on Monday, citing a lack of "transparency." A final court verdict on the deal has yet to be scheduled.
