Aviation Workers Call Off Strike After Three Days of Flight Disruptions

Aviation Workers Call Off Strike After Three Days of Flight Disruptions

Aviation workers have called off a three-day strike that disrupted flight operations at several Kenyan airports after the government and the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) reached a Return-to-Work Agreement.

The agreement was reached following overnight negotiations convened by Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir on Monday, August 31, 2026.

KAWU directed all employees who had participated in the industrial action to resume their normal duties immediately, paving the way for the restoration of airport operations.

“In consideration of the foregoing agreements and commitments, KAWU calls off the industrial action and advises all its affected members to resume normal duties immediately.”

The strike had affected operations at major airports, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi and Moi International Airport in Mombasa.

Hundreds of passengers were left stranded as air traffic controllers and other workers from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) participated in the industrial action.

The workers had raised concerns over remuneration, welfare, working conditions and the implementation of previously negotiated employment benefits.

KAWU Secretary-General Moses Ndiema said the union had initially expected individual employers to address workers’ grievances under an agreed framework.

“We agreed on a framework for each employer to sit down and handle the grievances. Apart from KAA, the other three refused to address our issues, which forced us to issue another strike notice on Friday.”

Under the new agreement, KAA will immediately remit agency fees owed to KAWU. The matter had been among the issues contributing to tensions between the union and the authority.

The agreement also allows KCAA and KAWU to resume negotiations on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) also agreed to withdraw its earlier guidance issued in July and provide new parameters to guide the CBA negotiations.

Although KAWU expressed reservations about some of the new SRC guidelines, the union and government agreed that the outstanding issues would be addressed through negotiations.

KCAA management also committed to honour and implement the outcome of the CBA negotiations once an agreement is reached.

The Return-to-Work Agreement further provides protection for workers who participated in the strike.

Under the terms reached by the parties, employees will not be victimised, intimidated, discriminated against or subjected to disciplinary action solely for participating in the industrial action.

The agreement is expected to ease tensions within the aviation sector and allow airlines and airport operators to resume normal services after three days of disruptions.

The strike had raised concerns among travellers and the wider business community, given the importance of Kenya’s aviation sector to tourism, trade and regional connectivity.

The government and KAWU will now have to follow through on the commitments contained in the agreement as negotiations on workers’ outstanding demands continue.

The resolution also places renewed focus on the long-running CBA discussions between KCAA and its employees, with both sides expected to use the agreed framework to address remuneration and workplace concerns.

For passengers, the immediate priority will be the restoration of normal flight schedules and airport services following the disruption.

The latest agreement therefore marks a temporary end to the industrial dispute, while leaving the broader employment negotiations to be resolved through the agreed consultation process.

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Aviation Workers Call Off Strike After Three Days of Flight Disruptions