Kenya’s main aviation union has postponed a planned strike for two weeks, aiming to resolve arguments with the government over the proposed $1.9 billion expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) initially planned to strike against the Kenyan government on August 19, 2024. However, two days before the strike was scheduled to start, Moss Ndiema, the Secretary-General of KAWU, announced that the action would be delayed for two weeks to allow for negotiations.
The strike was organized in response to a proposed $1.9 billion deal between the Kenyan government and India’s Adani Airports Holdings.
According to the agreement, Adani would upgrade NBO by adding a second runway and a new passenger terminal through a 30-year-build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract. Should the deal go ahead, Adani would take over the management of NBO.
“We have reports that once Adani takes over NBO, those at NBO will lose employment. They will then have to reapply for new employment through Adani Airport Holdings,” Ndiema commented to the local media. “Those who manage to be employed by Adani will be replaced in new inferior terms. We cannot allow that.”
The Kenyan government said that while the deal has not yet been approved, NBO needs these upgrades as it currently serves more passengers than its current capacity of 7.5 million per year. Government officials said the country is facing challenges to afford the reconstruction, which is estimated to cost approximately $2 million.
Kenyan Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has defended the deal, suggesting that if the government cannot fund the upgrades, it is reasonable to involve a private company like Adini in the reconstruction.
However, KAWU believes the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) should rely on its own resources and handle the upgrades, claiming: “KAA has the resources and the money to invest in the modernization of the airport.”