Airport workers go on strike, flights paralyzed

Thousands stranded at international Nairobi airport after strike over airport management

Thousands of travelers were stranded in Nairobi’s international airport on Wednesday after the workers went on a strike over the proposed takeover of the airport management in Kenya, East Africa.

The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport said in a statement that no planes landed at the Africa’s fourth busiest airport since Tuesday midnight when the protest started.

The Kenya Airways, the national flag carrier, asked its passengers to not come to the airport for flights after 11 a.m. [Wednesday] until further notice.

On Wednesday, Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) issued a strike notice over the proposed management of the airport by merging Kenya Airways and Kenya Airports Authority.

The move rose fear among a group of workers for losing job.

Speaking to the journalists at the airport, Kenya’s Transport Minister James Macharia termed the strike as malicious and illegal.

At least five KAWU officials were arrested, while some workers waving placards and chanting slogans were injured when dispersed by anti-riot police, he said.

The operations at the airport are set to be normalized in the coming hours with the Kenya Airforce, Macharia added.

Set to travelling to London, James Kibet complained to Anadolu Agency over the inconvenience: “I am not sure if they will compensate me for my connecting flights. The ripple effect will spread all across the world.”

Marco Flavio, who was scheduled for an Italy flight, also lamented the delays.

“I was heading to Italy and my wife was going to Mumbai, I am already late for a new job interview, these people won’t understand that Kenyans were on strike, I am so sad and upset.”

Most domestic flights have also been canceled following the strike.