KENYA AIRPORT STRIKE DISRUPTS FLIGHTS, LEAVES TRAVELLERS STRANDED

Air travel in Kenya has been severely disrupted after aviation workers began industrial action, resulting in flight delays, cancellations and hundreds of passengers being stranded at major airports.

The disruption, which entered its second day on Monday, August 31, 2026, has particularly affected Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, Kenya’s main international aviation hub.

The workers, affiliated with the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), began a go-slow on Sunday over unresolved labour-related grievances.

Among their complaints are the delayed implementation of a collective bargaining agreement with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, concerns over working conditions and what the union described as inadequate support from the Kenya Airports Authority.

The union has also raised concerns over employment-related benefits that workers say have not been fully implemented.

The industrial action has affected airport operations, with passengers reporting lengthy delays, cancelled flights and uncertainty over revised departure schedules.

Some travellers were reportedly left waiting for several hours, with some spending extended periods at airport terminals while waiting for information about their flights.

Kenya Airways said some of its flights were departing about two hours behind schedule, while Rwanda's national carrier, RwandAir, cancelled two flights amid reported air-traffic-control difficulties in Nairobi.

The disruption has also affected international passengers outside Kenya. One Kenyan politician, Irungu Nyakera, said he was stranded at an airport in Saudi Arabia after his Nairobi-bound flight was cancelled.

Nyakera described the situation as costly for Kenya, citing stranded tourists, delayed cargo and disruptions to businesses that depend heavily on the country's aviation network.

The Kenya Airports Authority has acknowledged the disruption and advised affected passengers to contact their respective airlines for updated information about their flights.

The authority said it was working with aviation agencies, airlines and other stakeholders to manage the situation and minimise the impact on airport operations.

KAWU officials said discussions were held with government representatives on Sunday in an attempt to resolve the dispute, but the talks failed to produce an immediate agreement.

Further negotiations were expected to continue on Monday as authorities sought to bring the industrial action to an end.

The strike has raised concerns because JKIA serves as a major gateway for Kenya's tourism, trade and regional transportation networks.

Prolonged disruption could therefore affect not only passengers but also cargo movement, tourism activities and businesses that rely on timely international connections.

The ongoing situation has prompted calls for the government and aviation authorities to reach an agreement with the workers quickly and restore normal operations.

For passengers planning to travel through Kenyan airports, authorities and airlines have advised them to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport and to remain in contact with their airlines for updates.