NAIROBI (Halbeeg News)-Thousands of passengers have been stranded in Kenya’s main airport after a strike by workers caused significant disruption to flights on Wednesday.
Workers are unhappy over a planned merger between the airport authority and the national airline.
The unions are opposed to a plan that would see the loss-making Kenya Airways taking over the management of airports from the profit-making Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).
The aviation workers complain of unfair staff hiring, poor remuneration and that the proposed take-over would put their jobs at risk.
The strike started on after staffers withdraw fire engines withdraw from the runway, and security, check-in and baggage-handling staff also stopped working.
About 60 flights failed to depart Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – East Africa’s largest – but some operations had resumed by the afternoon.
Airports in Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu are also being affected.
The government has condemned the strike as illegal and Kenyan air force personnel have been brought in to ease the situation.
Riot police were also deployed and used tear gas and batons to disperse striking workers, local media reported.
Kenya Airways said the situation is under control, with long-haul flights to destinations Amsterdam and Mumbai departed, others boarding and domestic flights also resumed.
Some flights to regional destinations have also been cancelled.
A key figure in organising the strike, Kenya Aviation Workers Union Secretary-General Moses Ndiema, has been arrested.
Frustrated passengers have complained of a lack of information and support from the authorities, with travellers waiting for hours with no update on their flights.
Some planes reportedly left without passengers.
Discussion about this post