By Antynet Ford
A chaotic scene was witnessed at Kenya’s main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) overnight after the staff went on strike early today over a planned takeover by Adani.
The airport was at a total standstill with management preparing a statement.
The Kenyan Aviation Workers Union confirmed on X that its strike started at midnight.
Photos and videos seen on social media showed a scrum of passengers trying to get their luggages at JKIA as the strike by JKIA workers took effect.
Plans to lease the JKIA to India’s Adani Group for 30 years in exchange for a $1.85 billion investment sparked widespread anger among JKIA workers and Kenyans at large.
Critics say the plan will lead to job losses for local staff and rob taxpayers of future airport profits.
Freight and passenger fees from JKIA account for more than five percent of Kenya’s GDP.
The Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission won a delay from the High Court on Monday, arguing that the deal lacked “transparency”.
Kenya’s government has defended the deal as necessary to refurbish JKIA.
It is one of Africa’s busiest hubs, handling 8.8 million passengers and 380,000 tonnes of cargo in 2022-23, but is often hit by power outages and leaking roofs.
Read also:- High Court Grants Leave for Judicial Review on JKIA Lease, Issues Stay Order
Adani would add a second runway and upgrade the passenger terminal, according to the Kenya Airport Authority.
