Looming Crisis as KAWU Issues Another Strike Notice
A fresh labour standoff is looming in Kenya’s aviation sector after the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) issued a new seven-day strike notice to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), citing stalled negotiations, delayed union dues, and alleged discrimination against contract workers.
In a statement released on Monday, February 9, 2026, the union accused KCAA management of failing to engage meaningfully on a long-pending Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), some provisions of which date back more than a decade. KAWU said repeated attempts at dialogue, including conciliation meetings, had yielded no tangible outcomes.
“The management has consistently refused to conclude negotiations or implement agreements reached as far back as 2015,” the union said, warning that patience among its members had been exhausted.
The union also raised concerns over the treatment of contract workers, alleging systemic discrimination within the authority. According to KAWU, contract employees performing duties similar to those of permanent staff have been denied benefits, job security, and representation, despite years of service.
KAWU Secretary General Moses Ndiema said the decision to issue a strike notice was reached after all alternative dispute resolution mechanisms failed. He noted that some aviation workers had gone for more than 11 years without a salary review, even as the cost of living continued to rise.
“Our members have waited long enough. We have tried dialogue, conciliation, and engagement in good faith, but nothing has changed. A strike is now the only option left,” Ndiema said.
The union warned that unless KCAA urgently addresses the grievances, industrial action will begin on Monday, February 16, 2026. KAWU said the strike would affect air traffic control, airport operations, technical services, and regulatory functions, potentially paralysing both domestic and international flights.
In a previous media briefing on January 21, 2026, Ndiema issued a stern warning on the possible scale of disruption if the dispute remains unresolved.
“We will close the airspace, ground everything, and shut down all Kenyan airports. This is a warning,” he said at the time.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority had not issued an immediate response to the latest strike notice by the time of publication. However, past disputes between the authority and aviation workers have often required intervention by the Ministry of Labour and the National Treasury, given the strategic importance of the sector to the economy.
Kenya’s aviation industry plays a critical role in tourism, trade, and regional connectivity, with Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) serving as a major hub in East and Central Africa. Any prolonged disruption is likely to have far-reaching economic implications, including flight cancellations, delays, and losses to airlines and related businesses.
The current standoff brings back memories of the September 2025 strike by aviation workers, which led to widespread disruption at JKIA and other airports. During that industrial action, flights were delayed or cancelled for nearly two days, stranding passengers before the government stepped in to broker a temporary resolution.
Labour experts say the renewed strike threat underscores deeper structural challenges within state corporations, particularly delays in implementing CBAs and managing contract employment. They warn that failure to address such issues early often leads to recurrent industrial unrest.
As the strike deadline approaches, pressure is mounting on KCAA and the government to reopen negotiations and avert another shutdown of Kenya’s airspace. For passengers, airlines, and businesses dependent on air transport, the coming days may prove critical.
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Looming Crisis as KAWU Issues Another Strike Notice
