Kenya: Nairobi airport shuts down as workers strike over proposed lease to Indian firm

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Kenya's largest airport was shut down on Wednesday due to a workers' strike protesting the proposed lease to an Indian firm, causing massive delays and disruptions in air travel.

Hundreds of passengers have been stranded at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) since Tuesday night when the Kenya Airport Workers Union (KAWU) began an indefinite strike at midnight to protest the government's plan to lease the airport to India's Adani Group.

On Wednesday morning, workers at JKIA chanted slogans outside the airport while blowing whistles and trumpets and shouting “Adani must go!”

All airport operations were halted on Tuesday evening and the KAWU issued a statement stating that, despite the High Court suspending the airport's handover to the Adani Group, its members would continue with the strike because the government has not responded to the ruling.

"The government has not been honest, and they are not genuine. They did not provide us with all of the documents that we requested. All we want is for the government to cancel the Adani deal," KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema told local media on Tuesday.

The protest caused significant disruptions, with many travelers stuck in long queues and flights grounded, forcing many to cancel domestic and international flights.

Images and videos circulating online show chaotic scenes in which passengers struggle to collect their luggage and make alternative travel arrangements.

The strike comes after a High Court decision to temporarily halt the government's proposed deal with the Indian company, which sought to lease JKIA for 30 years in exchange for a $1.85 billion investment to upgrade and expand the airport.

The deal faced widespread opposition from civil society groups, a section of the public, and leaders, who argued it lacked transparency and could result in job losses for local workers.

Despite the court ruling, Adani Group staff have remained at the airport, escalating worker tensions, as the KAWU has also expressed concerns about the deal's impact on jobs and working conditions.

The Kenyan government, however, maintains that the partnership with Adani Group is crucial to the modernization of JKIA, which is one of Africa's busiest airports.

The airport handles over 8.8 million passengers annually but has been plagued by infrastructure challenges, including leaking roofs, frequent power outages, and aging facilities.