Kenya Aviation Workers Call Off Strike, Resume Talks Over Long-Running Grievances
NAIROBI, Kenya, September 1, 2026 — Aviation workers in Kenya have called off a strike that disrupted flights at the country’s main international airport and several other airports, paving the way for the gradual restoration of normal operations.
The decision followed an agreement between the Kenya Aviation Workers’ Union (KAWU), airport and civil aviation authorities, and low-cost carrier Jambojet to return to work while negotiations over outstanding grievances continue.
Transport Minister Davis Chirchir and KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema confirmed the end of the strike on Tuesday, following disruptions that affected flights on Sunday and Monday.
The industrial action, largely involving air traffic controllers, caused delays and disruptions at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. The effects also spilled over to regional airports in East Africa and other destinations.
Under the return-to-work agreement, the parties committed to resuming operations as negotiations continue on issues that have remained unresolved for years.
“We have looked at various issues, with very clear guidelines on how we are going to deal with the three CBAs which have been suspended since 2015,” Chirchir said on Tuesday.
Ndiema, meanwhile, appealed to union members to return to their duties and help restore normal services.
“We are simply calling off our strike action and pleading with our members to begin the process of normalising operations, restoring services,” he said.
“For those who are on duty, we are asking them to begin clearing flights.”
The strike followed longstanding disagreements between KAWU and several aviation institutions, including the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Jambojet.
The union had raised concerns over the absence of a collective bargaining agreement at the Civil Aviation Authority, delayed salary reviews, a dispute over union dues at KAA and alleged victimisation of some union members at Jambojet.
Before the strike was called off, KAWU had sought court-backed intervention, arguing that the unresolved issues had persisted for too long.
The disruption left hundreds of passengers facing uncertainty at JKIA, with some reporting hours of waiting for information as flight delays stretched into a second day.
With workers now returning to duty, aviation authorities and the union are expected to focus on clearing the backlog of affected flights while continuing negotiations aimed at resolving the underlying labour disputes.
The return-to-work agreement is expected to provide temporary relief to passengers and airlines, but the outcome of the ongoing talks will determine whether the long-running grievances in Kenya’s aviation sector are finally settled.
