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Kenya Aviation Workers Call Off Strike After Deal to Remit Union Dues

The return-to-work agreement restores airport services and requires fresh collective bargaining but leaves key pay guidance and recognition disputes unresolved.

A passenger hugs a Qatar Airways flight attendant after a delayed flight was cleared for departure during a workers strike at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Qatar Airways flight attendants wait to be cleared during a workers strike at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Passengers queue at the departure area during a workers strike at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Passengers queue at the departure area during a workers strike at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Overview

  • A go-slow action by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union that disrupted flights at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and other Kenyan airports was halted when workers signed a return-to-work agreement and resumed duties.
  • The deal requires immediate remittance of agency fees to KAWU, includes a non-victimisation clause for participating staff, and commits the parties to restart negotiations on new collective bargaining agreements.
  • Airlines reported long delays, some cancellations and a growing backlog that continues to affect passenger schedules and regional connections as operations recover.
  • The Salaries and Remuneration Commission issued new pay guidance that KAWU has reservations about, and a separate union recognition dispute with Jambojet will be settled through the courts or further talks.
  • Industry groups warned that repeated stoppages threaten Kenya’s role as a regional hub and called for tested contingency plans, clearer communication and stronger coordination to protect safety and connectivity.