Kenya’s largest aviation union has postponed a planned strike by two weeks to resolve disputes with the government over the planned $1.9 billion expansion of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO).
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) had originally planned to strike against the Kenyan government on August 19, 2024. However, two days before the strike was scheduled to begin, Moss Ndiema, the general secretary of KAWU, announced that the action would be postponed for two weeks to allow for negotiations.
The strike was organized in response to a proposed $1.9 billion deal between the Kenyan government and Indian airport operator Adani Airports Holdings.
According to the agreement, Adani would upgrade NBO by building a second runway and a new passenger terminal under a 30-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement. If the deal goes through, Adani would take over the management of NBO.
“We have received reports that NBO employees will lose their jobs once Adani takes over NBO. They will then have to reapply for employment with Adani Airport Holdings,” Ndiema told local media. “Those who manage to get employed by Adani will be replaced on worse terms. We cannot allow that.”
The Kenyan government said that while the deal has not yet been approved, the NBO needs these upgrades as it currently handles more passengers than its current capacity of 7.5 million per year. Government officials said the country faces challenges in financing the upgrade work, estimated to cost about $2 million.
Kenyan Transport Minister Davis Chirchir defended the deal, saying that if the government could not finance the modernization measures, it would make sense to involve a private company like Adini in the reconstruction.
However, KAWU believes that the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) should undertake the modernisation on its own. “KAA has the resources and money to invest in the modernisation of the airport,” the statement said.
