“JKIA Strike Strands Passengers as Kenya Aviation Workers Down Tools”

“JKIA Faces Major Disruptions as Aviation Workers Down Tools, Stranding Passengers”

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On Monday, February 16, 2026, what should have been a normal travel day at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) — Kenya’s busiest airport and one of Africa’s key air transport hubs — turned into a scene of frustration, confusion and delay. Instead of moving swiftly through check‑ins and security, passengers found themselves stuck in long queues, watching departure boards with delayed and cancelled flights, and scrambling for answers as aviation workers stopped work and downed their tools.

The reason for this disruption goes back to a deepening labour dispute between the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). Workers have been pushing for long‑pending improvements in pay, benefits and working conditions, but their demands have collided with what they describe as years of stalled negotiations, unreviewed salaries and refusal to finalise collective bargaining agreements that would update their pay and working terms. In statements before the strike, union leaders said many employees had gone more than a decade without a proper salary review, even as the cost of living climbed and aviation workloads increased.

In early February, KAWU issued a seven‑day strike notice after talks with the government and aviation authorities failed to produce a breakthrough. The union accused KCAA of unfair labour practices, including the continued reliance on short‑term contracts for key roles that should be held by permanent staff, and a refusal to include contract workers fully in pensionable employment. With negotiations at a standstill and warnings that failure to act would “paralyse air transport,” 16 February was set as the date when workers would begin industrial action.

As the strike began, aviation workers immediately disrupted flights in and out of JKIA. Kenya Airways and Jambojet advised travellers to check flight statuses and prepare for delays in departures and arrivals, as reduced staffing slowed air traffic control and ground handling. Travellers scrambled to rebook flights or find alternative travel plans as the situation unfolded.

This strike is part of a pattern of industrial action in Kenya’s aviation sector. In September 2024, hundreds of airport workers walked out in protest over a controversial plan to lease JKIA to an Indian company, which sparked fears of job losses and foreign control of a strategic national asset. That strike paralysed operations at JKIA and other airports, leading to flight cancellations, chaos in terminals and hundreds of passengers stranded overnight before talks with the government eased tensions for a time.

Back then, workers were worried that the lease deal — which proposed a 30‑year agreement with a foreign firm to expand and operate JKIA — would undermine local jobs and transparency in the governance of the airport. The government argued the deal was needed for investment and modernization, but lack of public participation and union involvement fuelled opposition and significant disruption at the airport.

Long before that, in 2019, a major strike was met with force when police charged airport workers protesting plans to privatise JKIA, and several union leaders were arrested, flights were cancelled, and operations were thrown into disarray.

Each of these episodes has underscored a persistent reality: labour relations in Kenya’s aviation might be among the most sensitive and consequential in the country. When workers down tools at airports, the effects are immediate and wide‑reaching. Flights across domestic and international routes face delays or cancellations, cargo — including perishable goods — piles up, and travellers with connecting flights in Africa, Europe, or beyond watch their plans crumble.

The 2026 strike also points to deep structural issues: many workers feel that their contributions to the aviation sector go unrewarded, that contract workers are treated unfairly compared to permanent staff, and that negotiations over collective bargaining have been brushed aside. The fact that some of these disputes have simmered for years illustrates how fragile the balance between airport operations and worker satisfaction has become.

For travellers caught in the middle, the advice remains the same: stay in close contact with your airline, monitor official flight updates, and prepare for delays or schedule changes. Even when authorities try to activate contingency plans to keep essential operations running, the realities on the ground — from slower air traffic control to reduced ground services — can still cause major delays and disruptions.

Looking ahead, the resolution of this strike — whether through renewed talks, legal rulings, or government intervention — could set the tone for labour relations across Kenya’s aviation sector. A sustainable agreement that addresses workers’ concerns could bring stability and prevent future large‑scale disruptions. But if unresolved, it could add to the routine uncertainty that has, on multiple occasions in the past decade, left passengers stranded, flights derailed and Kenya’s reputation as a regional travel hub tested.