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Aviation workers' strike suspended as State, union agree on month-long talks
Kenya Airports Authority signage at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
What you need to know:
- PS for Aviation and Aerospace Development Tresia Mbaika said the parties had agreed on a roadmap to address the issues raised.
- KQ and Jambojet will also withdraw two cases filed before the Employment and Labour Relations Court as part of the agreement.
The nationwide aviation strike that had threatened to disrupt flights, cargo operations and airport services has been suspended after the government and the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) agreed to resolve the outstanding labour disputes over the next 30 days.
The agreement, brokered on Monday, opens negotiations between the union and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Airways (KQ) and Jambojet.
Principal Secretary for Aviation and Aerospace Development Tresia Mbaika said the parties had agreed on a roadmap to address the issues raised in the strike notice.
“The union hereby suspends the strike notice dated July 20, 2026. We have given ourselves at most 30 days to make sure all these issues are addressed. We expect that by the end of the 30 days everything will have been settled,” Ms Mbaika said.
Under the agreement, she said the disputes involving KQ and Jambojet will be discussed on July 28, except for a Jambojet recognition dispute that is still before the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
The KAA-related grievances will be discussed on July 29, 2026 while negotiations on KCAA’s delayed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will begin immediately. Further, the discussions on KCAA’s human resource instruments are scheduled for July 30, 2026.
Planned industrial action
“There shall be no will be no victimisation from either side arising out of the strike notice,” Ms Mbaika said
KQ and Jambojet will also withdraw two cases filed before the Employment and Labour Relations Court as part of the agreement.
KAWU Secretary-General Moss Ndiema confirmed that the planned industrial action had been suspended, assuring travellers and industry players that there would be no disruptions linked to the strike.
“I confirm that our strike action through a strike notice issued on July 20 stands suspended and so there is no anticipation for any disruptions whatsoever arising from the intended strike action,” Mr Ndiema said.
However, he clarified that the underlying disputes are still unresolved and will be handled through the agreed negotiation process.
“We have agreed on a framework on how to resolve those issues. It was not possible for all of those issues to be addressed today. That is why every organisation with whom we had a dispute has been allocated a date,” he said.
Mr Ndiema said the negotiations with KQ and Jambojet will begin on Tuesday, focusing on issues including dismissals and terminations, while talks with the other agencies will be according to the agreed schedule.
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