Flights disrupted at JKIA as aviation workers resume strike
Stranded passengers at JKIA as Kenya Aviation Workers Union members went on strike on August 30, 2026 over the government's failure to honour the terms of their memorandum.
Passengers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) were left frustrated, stranded and uncertain about their travel plans on Sunday after aviation workers resumed their strike.
Travellers said they had received little or no warning about the industrial action, with some arriving at the airport only to learn that their flights had been delayed.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (Kawu) resumed its industrial action last night over a raft of grievances, including issues raised last month when the union agreed to suspend its strike.
Stranded passengers at JKIA as Kenya Aviation Workers Union members went on strike on August 30, 2026 over the failure Government's failure to honour the terms of their memorandum.
The union’s chairman Walter Ongeri told the Nation that the government had failed to honour the terms of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the union, prompting workers to resume the strike.
“We did sign a back-to-work formula but, unfortunately, KAA and KCAA failed to meet our demands. They have never committed to the negotiations and have failed to cooperate and show effort in resolving our grievances. We therefore lifted the suspension on the strike,” Kawu secretary-general Moss Ndiema said.
Glen Omindu, who was due to travel to Dubai on a 1pm flight, said passengers were yet to be told when they would eventually depart.
“There was no warning, and that’s the problem. The flight was for 1pm and we are yet to be told when we will leave. We’ll have to find something to do in the meantime and I just hope for the best or, at worst, just cancel the flight,” Mr Omindu said.
Moi International Airport screen showing delayed flights due to the ongoing workers' strike.
Faith Mbugua who arrived at the airport at 10am ahead of her 1pm flight said passengers were struggling to get clear information about the disruption.
“We are very frustrated. We were here at 10am and were told that there is a strike. The flight has since been scheduled for 8:50pm tonight,” she said, adding that it was now a wait-and-see situation.
“I don’t even know if I’m flying tonight. Nobody wants to own the problem and they keep saying it’s not a ‘we’ problem,” Ms Mbugua said.
Stephen Maguro, who was expecting to depart at 1pm for a conference in Rwanda, said his flight had been delayed and passengers had been given a new schedule.
“I was expecting a departure at 1pm. Unfortunately, the flight has been delayed. I was going for a conference in Rwanda. We’re hoping that the situation will be resolved as quickly as possible,” he said.
More than 500 passengers were stranded at the passenger lounge of the Moi International Airport in Mombasa following flight delays caused by the ongoing airport workers' go-slow.
By 3.00 pm only one Jambojet flight had landed at the airport since morning, and it departed back to Nairobi.
Passengers at the Moi International Airport: Several flights landed after hours of delay.
Some of the arriving passengers said they had more than five hours' delay from their scheduled departure time from Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Mr Kennedy Abiero, who had landed from China, had a 9.00am connecting flight from Nairobi which was delayed for hours. He said if the workers are demanding their dues from the government, they should be paid since the strike had caused havoc at the airport.
"I was at Jomo Kenyatta Airport as early as 6.00am. This delay is frustrating,” he said.
Other passengers called on the government and aviation workers to urgently resolve the stalemate and restore normal operations to prevent further inconvenience to travellers.
The passengers said the disruption was particularly frustrating for those travelling for urgent business and other time-sensitive engagements.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) in a travel advisory said airports across the country were experiencing flight delays.
“KAA is working closely with the relevant aviation agencies, airlines and other stakeholders to manage the situation, minimise disruption and facilitate the smooth flow of airport operations,” the authority said.
It advised passengers to contact their respective airlines for updates.
The Nation understands that various stakeholders in the industry, including union officials, the Ministry of Transport and aviation agencies, were holding a crisis meeting to resolve the unfolding dispute.
Additional reporting by Kevin Odit and Karim Rajan.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
