NAIROBI, Kenya – A looming strike that threatened to cripple operations at Kenya’s major airports has been called off following successful talks between the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU).
The industrial action, which was set to begin this week after a seven-day strike notice issued on September 23, was officially withdrawn on Wednesday, October 1, after what both sides described as constructive negotiations.
In a joint statement, KAA confirmed the labour dispute had been resolved amicably after several rounds of consultations involving the union, the Authority, and officials from the Ministries of Roads and Transport, and Labour and Social Protection.
The KAA Board of Directors, chaired by Caleb Kositany, also played a central role in the discussions.
KAA Acting Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Mohamud Gedi, praised the resolution, noting it had averted major disruptions to both domestic and international travel.
“We thank KAWU for their constructive engagement throughout the process. Passengers, airlines, and partners can be assured of our commitment to excellent customer experience across all KAA-managed airports,” Dr. Gedi said.
The union had raised concerns over staff welfare, working conditions, and the delayed implementation of agreements.
KAWU officials said they chose dialogue over confrontation, stressing that the safety and convenience of passengers remained a priority.
The resolution comes as a welcome relief to the aviation sector, which had been bracing for possible delays, cancellations, and revenue losses during the upcoming holiday season.
A prolonged strike would have dealt a severe blow to the tourism industry and the wider economy.
While details of the agreement have not been made public, sources indicated that both parties agreed on a framework to address workers’ grievances, with timelines for implementation.
The Ministry of Labour has pledged to monitor compliance to ensure the deal holds.
For now, normal operations have resumed across all airports, with stakeholders calling the outcome a positive example of dialogue averting a crisis.
However, union leaders have warned that they remain vigilant and expect management to honour its commitments fully.
