Kenya Airports Authority./FILE
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) have successfully resolved a looming labour dispute that had threatened to disrupt operations at the country’s airports.
The strike notice issued by KAWU on September 23, 2025, has now been officially withdrawn, KAA said.
According to the Authority, this follows a series of intensive deliberations between the union, KAA management, and key government ministries.
In a statement, KAA acting managing director Mohamud Gedi confirmed that the talks had yielded a positive outcome, ensuring continuity of services at all KAA-managed facilities.
He commended the spirit of dialogue that prevailed throughout the negotiations.
“This positive outcome is a result of constructive consultations and productive discussions between the Kenya Airports Authority, the Kenya Aviation Workers Union, and the relevant Government Ministries,” Gedi said in a statement.
The Authority also extended its gratitude to the KAA Board of Directors, led by Chairman Caleb Kositany, for their leadership and guidance in the resolution process.
It also thanked the Ministry of Roads and Transport, as well as the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, for playing a facilitative role that helped steer the parties towards consensus.
KAA further applauded the Union for its constructive engagement, saying it was a demonstration of commitment to safeguarding both workers’ rights and the stability of airport operations.
“Passengers, airlines, and partners can be assured of our commitment to excellent customer experience across all KAA-managed airports. The Authority remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards of safety, security, and service excellence,” Gedi said.
The resolution comes as a major relief to passengers and the aviation sector, which had been bracing for possible disruptions specifically at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) beginning Thursday.
The union had raised concerns over several issues, including the transfer of Ground Flight Safety operations from KAA to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), delayed confirmation of staff to permanent positions, and unresolved Collective Bargaining Agreements.
With the agreement now reached, both KAA and KAWU have pledged to continue engaging through structured dialogue to ensure that similar disputes are addressed amicably before escalating into industrial action.
KAA did not, however, provide details about a court case it had filed seeking to stop the strike.
During the hearing of the case Monday, the court gave the parties two days to engage in conciliation talks.
A conciliation report was to be filed in court today (Wednesday) ahead of a scheduled court session on Thursday.
