Passengers stranded at main Kenya airport as staff protest

Hundreds of passengers are facing disruptions at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) due to a protest by airport workers against a proposed lease deal with an Indian company. The protest has led to significant delays and cancellations of flights, creating long queues and considerable frustration among travelers.

The workers have initiated a “go-slow” protest, deliberately slowing down their work to disrupt airport operations. Their action is in response to a proposal to lease JKIA to the Adani Group, an Indian conglomerate, for a 30-year period. The aviation workers’ union is concerned about the transparency of the deal and the potential for job losses. They argue that the agreement has been handled with a lack of clarity and could negatively impact their employment.

In defense of the proposal, the Kenyan government has argued that JKIA is operating beyond its capacity and requires private investment to facilitate necessary upgrades. They assert that the deal is intended to modernize the airport and improve its services.

On Wednesday morning, the situation at the airport became chaotic. Large crowds of travelers gathered outside the terminal as the go-slow protest affected airport operations. Reports from local broadcaster Citizen TV showed workers using plastic trumpets and chanting slogans such as “Adani must go.” The footage also captured a police officer striking a protester with a baton, adding to the tension.

Wilma van Altena, a traveler who was in Kenya for a holiday and needed to return to the Netherlands for a funeral, described the scene as chaotic. “There were hundreds of people outside the airport when we arrived,” she said “We eventually made it inside, but there was no information available. The flight boards were blank, and we had not received any updates from the airline. I need to get home but have no idea when that will happen.”

The Zimbabwe men’s football team was also affected by the disruptions. The squad had arrived in Nairobi after playing an African Cup of Nations qualifier in Uganda. They were stranded at the airport with no information regarding their connecting flight to Harare, according to an unnamed official.

By around 05:45 BST (07:45 local time), passengers, including cere still waiting in the lengthy queues.

In response to the disruptions, the Kenya Airports Authority issued a statement indicating that “minimal operations” had resumed as of 7:00 am. They expressed apologies for the inconvenience caused and reassured the public that efforts were being made to normalize airport operations. The authority also acknowledged the need for patience and understanding during this challenging time.

The Kenya Aviation Workers’ Union had previously threatened an indefinite strike if the government did not disclose the full details of the Adani Group deal. Both the Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission have criticized the lease proposal, arguing that it is unreasonable to lease a key national asset to a private entity. In response to these concerns, the two organizations filed a legal challenge in the High Court, which has since issued a temporary halt on the deal pending a judicial review. The court has yet to set a date for a final decision on the matter.

As the situation continues to develop, travelers and workers alike are left waiting for a resolution to the ongoing dispute that has significantly impacted airport operations and travel plans.