The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has assured
travellers and airlines that air navigation services will not be disrupted
despite a planned strike by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) staff under the
Kenya Airport Workers’ Union (Kawu).
In a statement, KCAA Director General Emile Arao said the
Authority will continue to perform all its statutory duties under the Civil
Aviation Act.
He went on to say that flights in the Kenyan airspace
remain safe.
He explained that essential services—including air traffic
control, communication, navigation, surveillance, and aeronautical information
services—are fully functional.
“All statutory functions and responsibilities of KCAA, as
provided for under the Civil Aviation Act, Cap. 394, and the attendant
regulations, continue to be performed without interruption. The Authority
remains fully committed to discharging its mandate in accordance with the law
and regulations," he said.
“The provision of air navigation services-including air
traffic control, communication, navigation and surveillance, and aeronautical
information services-remains fully operational. Accordingly, the safety of
aircraft operating within Kenyan airspace, whether overflying, arriving, or
departing from our airports, is assured."
KCAA noted that it remains committed to strong oversight and
service delivery in compliance with domestic and international aviation
standards.
The regulator said these safeguards are designed to
guarantee safety, security, and efficiency in the aviation sector.
The announcement comes as anxiety grows among passengers and
airlines over the planned strike by airport workers.
Similar actions in the past have caused major delays and
operational disruptions at airports, but KCAA maintains that it has the capacity
to keep operations running smoothly.
The assurance comes after a crisis meeting between Kenya
Airports Authority (KAA) management and the Kenya Aviation Workers’ Union
(KAWU) ended Thursday without agreement, raising the prospect of a disruptive
strike.
KAWU Secretary Moss Ndiema told the press at the JKIA after
the meeting that the delegation met KAA in an effort to resolve the grievances
that led the union to issue a seven-day strike notice.
“Unfortunately, we have not been able to resolve any issue,
not even one,” Ndiema said.
He said out of the seven listed demands, which the union
described as its “irreducible minimums”, only one item saw any movement.
This is in relation to a planned meeting in Naivasha to
deliberate on human resource instruments.
According to Ndiema, the management offered to suspend the
meeting pending further consultation.
The most explosive row centres on the alleged dismissal of a human resource manager, with Ndiema stating that the management insisted the decision was taken by the board.
The SG, who was flanked by other union officials, urged the
management to resolve the issues before the lapse of the notice.
“If we are not able to resolve these issues between now and
Monday next week, when our seven-day strike notice will be expiring…we promise
them that it will not end with the board still in office,” Ndiema warned.
“We will make sure they resign or they are disbanded.”
Ndiema also took on the board for failing to deliver
improvements at JKIA, saying the airport “is in a very poor condition today.”
