NAIROBI, Kenya—The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has reached a return-to-work agreement with the government, ending the strike that began on Tuesday night.
However, the resolution does not mean workers have accepted the controversial plan to lease Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Indian firm Adani Airport Holdings.
The strike’s end follows intense negotiations led by the Ministry of Transport and union leaders.
But as COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli emphasized, this deal isn’t an endorsement of the proposed JKIA takeover. Instead, it buys time for the union to review the deal’s documents over the next ten days before deciding on their next steps.
Transport CS Davis Chirchir took the opportunity to defend the government’s proposal to lease JKIA to Adani, a move he claims will pave the way for a new airport and necessary upgrades.
“This proposal is vital for Kenya’s aviation infrastructure growth,” Chirchir argued during the meeting.
However, KAWU’s Secretary General Moss Ndiema stressed that while workers are resuming duties immediately, they are not backing down.
In fact, they now hold veto power over the deal, allowing them to stop the process if their concerns aren’t adequately addressed.
“We’ll continue pressing the government to reconsider the Adani deal,” Ndiema said, underscoring the union’s commitment to safeguarding workers’ interests.
Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura moved to quell public fears, confirming that no agreement has been signed with Adani.
He described the deal as merely a proposal, reiterating that JKIA remains a “strategic national asset” that isn’t for sale. “The Adani JKIA venture is only a proposal at this stage,” Mwaura noted.
The union’s cautious return to work indicates that while operations may be back on track for now, the debate over JKIA’s future is far from over.
As the union and government inch closer to further discussions, all eyes are on the outcome of the document review and potential next steps.
