Air travel in Kenya could face fresh disruption after the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) served a strike notice to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), accusing it of failing to act on commitments made in a February agreement that ended a previous industrial action.
The union says the return-to-work formula signed on February 17 in the presence of Transport Cabinet Secretary Davies Chirchir has not been implemented, particularly on matters touching on staff representation and union rights. KAWU Secretary General Moses Ndiema said the situation points to disregard for both agreed terms and existing court directives.
“The return-to-work formula is a foundational document upon which subsequent negotiations are based. KCAA does not seem ready to recognise the rule of law like any other corporate body in the country,” Ndiema said.
According to the union, one of the key issues was the inclusion of employees in grades four and five under union representation, which it now claims has not been effected. Ndiema said the delay has eroded trust and forced the union to consider industrial action once again.
He advised passengers to make early travel arrangements, warning that any inconvenience arising from the strike would not be the responsibility of the union.
The latest standoff comes weeks after operations resumed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and other aerodromes following earlier disruptions that had affected flight schedules. The resumption followed a deal reached between KAWU, KCAA and government officials aimed at addressing workers’ grievances.
The agreement was reached during a meeting convened by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davies Chirchir alongside Aviation Principal Secretary Terry Mbaika. The discussions brought together representatives from KCAA, the Kenya Airports Authority, the State Department of Labour and union officials.
As part of the resolution, all sides agreed to immediately return to work to restore normal operations across affected facilities. KCAA later confirmed the position, stating, “All parties formally agreed to an immediate return to work.”
The deal also outlined plans to review job grading and employee representation within KCAA, especially for categories that had previously been discussed but not implemented. The review was meant to ensure fairness and address long-standing concerns raised by workers.
In addition, the Ministry of Labour was assigned the role of leading a structured conciliation process to help resolve outstanding matters and guide further talks toward a lasting solution.
At the time, Chirchir underscored the need to safeguard the aviation industry, pointing out its contribution to the country’s economy and the importance of stability in the sector.
“Aviation contributes immensely to the economy of the country, and we are committed to ensuring that the sector remains stable,” he said.
The return-to-work framework also committed all parties to continued engagement through dialogue, with a focus on resolving disputes while maintaining smooth operations and protecting passenger interests.
Following the February negotiations, Ndiema had welcomed the outcome and praised the government for its willingness to engage the union in finding a solution.
“We appreciate the government’s goodwill in engaging the union promptly and demonstrating genuine interest in our workers,” Ndiema said at the time.
“We are happy about the successful engagements, and in effect, the union called off the strike based on the terms agreed in the return-to-work formula. We were satisfied with the way forward that would involve the Ministry of Labour.”
He noted then that the discussions showed a shared commitment to addressing labour concerns in a fair manner while ensuring stability in the aviation industry.
During the earlier strike, the Ministry of Roads and Transport issued an apology to travellers, airlines and other stakeholders after flight operations at JKIA slowed down due to the disruption.
With the new strike notice now issued, concerns are growing over the possibility of another round of interruptions if the dispute remains unresolved.