Kenya airport workers' strike called off after two days of disruption

Operations at Kenya’s main airport are set to resume and return to normal after workers on Tuesday called off a two-day strike after reaching an agreement with the transport ministry.

Operations at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport were paralyzed on Monday, with flight delays of up to six hours, as airlines urged passengers to rebook their travel.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority in a statement said operations would resume immediately after a return-to-work agreement was reached with the trade union Tuesday.

The union was demanding better working conditions, pay, and benefits, and discussions on how their demands would be met were held on Tuesday.

Transport hub

The airport is a major transport hub for regional and international travel.

Transport Minister Davies Chirchir reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure the aviation sector remains stable.

Kenya Airways, in a statement, said it was in the process of normalizing the schedule and that “normal operations will resume within the next 24 hours.”

Airport workers issued a strike notice last week after authorities failed to implement part of an agreement with the union. The agreement demanded better labour conditions as well as increased pay and benefits.