Kenya’s Aviation Strike Ends with a Return-to-Work Agreement, but Underlying Disputes Remain Unresolved

Nairobi, Kenya – Normal operations quickly returned to Kenya’s airports following a two-day strike that caused significant disruptions, delays, and cancellations for passengers and airline crew. Aviation workers were instructed to return to their stations on September 1 after government officials, union leaders, and aviation executives reached a return-to-work agreement during overnight negotiations that concluded early Tuesday morning.

While the deal successfully ended the strike, it did not resolve the core dispute. The grievances driving the walkout have accumulated over several years, encompassing issues related to collective bargaining agreements, salary negotiations, agency fees, union recognition, and allegations of victimisation. Many of these triggering issues are now back under negotiation.

The recent industrial action followed a pattern of previous agreements that failed to permanently settle the underlying conflicts. The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) had previously established a return-to-work agreement with the government and aviation agencies in February, followed by another agreement in July to suspend a planned strike and allow continued talks involving the Ministry of Roads and Transport, Kenya Airways, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), and the low-cost airline Jambojet.

However, fundamental disagreements persisted. In August, the union resumed industrial action, claiming that essential commitments remained unaddressed. The two-day strike began on August 30, disrupting operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Moi International Airport, Kisumu International Airport, and Eldoret International Airport, leaving travellers facing missed flights and long information waits.

Principal Secretary for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Teresia Mbaika, stated that the Ministry of Roads and Transport had engaged KAWU and advised the union to negotiate separately with each involved institution. Despite this framework, another strike occurred, prompting high-level talks that included Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, Teresia Mbaika, Labour PS Shadrack Mwadime, COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, and senior officials from KAA, KCAA, and Jambojet.

The new agreement immediately addresses several critical issues, including the remittance of outstanding agency fees owed to KAWU by KAA. Additionally, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission withdrew its initial guidance and issued new parameters on September 1, enabling KAWU and KCAA to resume negotiations regarding their long-standing collective bargaining agreement dating back to 2016. Other grievances from the July 20 strike notice are slated to be addressed through an agreed dispute-resolution process within three weeks.

Meanwhile, KAWU's dispute with Jambojet regarding trade union recognition remains before the courts, with both parties agreeing to respect the eventual judicial decision. The agreement also provides protections ensuring that workers who participated in the strike will not face victimisation or disciplinary action solely for their involvement.

Although normal scheduled operations have largely resumed and major airports have successfully handled hundreds of flights, the ultimate test for the agreement lies in whether the commitments made by the government and KAWU can successfully prevent future disruptions. KAWU Secretary-General Moss Ndiema confirmed that staff have resumed duties immediately while keeping negotiations alive for the remaining unresolved issues.