Overview
- The work slow-down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport continued into a second day on Monday, producing long delays, some cancellations and thousands of passengers stranded or forced to overnight at the terminal.
- The Kenya Aviation Workers Union says the action seeks a finalised collective bargaining agreement and opposes using National Youth Service volunteers in airport roles, and talks with government officials have so far failed to produce a settlement.
- Airport operator KAA confirmed disruptions to departing flights and said it was coordinating with airlines and regulators while the Ministry of Roads and Transport has issued little public comment beyond a principal secretary’s statement that the government is seeking an amicable resolution.
- Airlines reported heavy operational knock‑on effects with Kenya Airways citing average delays of two to six hours, RwandAir cancelling services, and industry groups’ preliminary data from 16 operators showing about 150 cancellations, 382 delays and roughly $5.1 million in direct losses.
- Stakeholders warned the disruption threatens Kenya’s role as an East African hub and tourism flows, and contingency steps such as extra Kenya Railways services have been deployed while the sector assesses wider network and economic fallout.