Kenya Aviation Workers Threaten Strike Over Proposed Deal with India’s Adani Group

Kenya’s aviation sector faces potential turmoil as the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has announced plans for a strike starting next Monday. The union, representing airport workers, is protesting a proposed deal with India’s Adani Airport Holdings to develop Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the country’s largest aviation hub.

KAWU claims that the agreement, which was unveiled last month, threatens to result in job losses and the introduction of non-Kenyan workers into the workforce. The union has issued a seven-day strike notice, demanding that the government cancel what it has termed the "unlawful intended sale of JKIA to Adani Airport Holdings."

The Kenyan government, however, has clarified that the airport is not for sale. It has stated that no final decision has been made regarding the proposed public-private partnership intended to upgrade JKIA. Despite these assurances, KAWU remains firm in its stance, with Secretary General Moss Ndiema stating that the union will only reconsider industrial action if the deal with Adani Airport Holdings is completely abandoned.

The proposed strike poses a significant risk to the operations of Kenya Airways, the national carrier, which could face major disruptions if the industrial action goes ahead. Adani Group, the Indian conglomerate involved, has yet to comment on the situation.