Flights from Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) were rerouted to Mombasa and Tanzania amid a worker strike that began on March 6, leaving thousands stranded in the terminal for hours.
The dispute, which started at dawn, forced airlines to divert flights as passengers faced prolonged delays and inadequate facilities. Kenya Airport Authority officials urged travelers to contact airline representatives for updates on their itineraries.
"We advise all passengers using JKIA to coordinate with airline staff to confirm their travel schedules and avoid unnecessary delays," the authority stated in a statement.
Social media platforms flooded with complaints from stranded travelers, including one who tweeted:
"I was supposed to take a morning flight to Oslo from JKIA, now heading to Tanzania..."
Another user criticized the situation, saying:
"This is an international airport. We're showing a very bad picture while others like Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania benefit."
Police and security units clashed with striking workers as tensions escalated, with reports of a senior KAWU official being detained. Vehicles were seen blocking access to the terminal, and passenger cars were parked in restricted zones.
The chaos highlighted systemic challenges at Kenya's main international gateway, with airport managers struggling to communicate with affected travelers during the crisis.
