Flights canceled as Kenya airport workers protest Indian firm takeover
Workers at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport began a strike on Wednesday to protest an Indian company that has been linked to significant flight cancellations and delays.According to Reuters, the strike, which included workers blowing plastic trumpets and clashing with police, was in response to a proposed 30-year lease deal with the Adani Group.
Workers are frustrated by this deal, which involves a $1.85 billion investment in airport expansion.
Passengers outside the terminals were left waiting on curbs and luggage trolleys after departure and arrival boards were turned off.
"It's very poor," said one passenger, Ahmed Abdulrahman, who described a six-hour wait.
"No one is coming out to tell us what we should do, such as leave or look for a hotel. Warda Omar, standing beside her child, added, "I have a little child here waiting hungrily."
According to the report, TV footage showed a police officer hitting a protester with a baton during the strike.
However, lines at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport began to move again after police took over security checks from the striking staff.
The scale of the strike and its full impact are unknown, but major regional carriers such as Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and RwandAir have reported significant flight cancellations and delays.
The strike has been declared indefinite, adding to the existing uncertainty and disruption.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union claims that the proposed deal with Adani could lead to job losses and an influx of non-Kenyan workers.
The Kenyan government has stated that the airport, which is operating above capacity and in need of modernisation, is not for sale.
The government has stated that no decision has been made on a potential public-private partnership to upgrade the airport.
According to the Kenya Airports Authority, minimal operations have resumed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
According to reports, the Authority is working with relevant parties to restore order and mitigate the impact of the strike.
According to the Nation newspaper, the strike also affected workers at Kisumu and Mombasa regional airports.
On Monday, Kenya's high court temporarily halted the Adani proposal, which included plans to build a new runway and upgrade the passenger terminal, to allow for a judicial review.
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