A strike by Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) members disrupted Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) operations on March 6, 2019, grounding flights and stranding hundreds of passengers despite a court injunction against the industrial action.
The walkout, initiated early Wednesday, halted all inbound and outbound flights, with the last scheduled landing occurring before 3 a.m. A Rwanda Air plane departed empty after passengers were unable to board. The strike targeted proposed plans to merge Kenya Airways with the Kenya Aviation Authority (KAA), which workers claim threatens their employment.
KAWU representatives, including secretary-general Moses Ndiema, stated the action aimed to address grievances over the merger, which Parliament has suspended for review. The union includes maintenance staff, air traffic controllers, cabin crew, and security personnel.
The Kenya Aviation Authority (KAA) had secured a court injunction to block the strike, asserting normal operations would continue. However, workers defied the order, demanding the removal of KAA chief Johny Andersen and Kenya Airways executives. A KAA statement cited a March 5, 2019, court ruling suspending the strike notice dated February 27, 2019.
