Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has labeled the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) strike a criminal act, asserting that normal operations at Nairobi's airport will resume as scheduled.
Macharia emphasized that union officials lacked justification for the strike, citing a recent meeting where they were assured the proposed Kenya Airways-JKIA merger would not lead to job cuts. He accused KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema of mobilizing approximately 30 workers, primarily passenger screeners, to participate in the protest.
When questioned about police actions during the strike, Macharia defended the use of force, describing the airport as a high-risk area. 'There is no such thing as excessive force when protecting a critical security installation,' he stated. 'This is a high-risk environment, and we do not allow unrestricted access.'
The CS noted that Kenya Airports Authority and Kenya Airways have implemented contingency measures, deploying the Kenya Air Force to replace striking staff and maintain operations.
