JKIA Workers Insist On Striking Over Adani Takeover Deal Despite Gov’t Interventions
The looming strike by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) employees has heightened tensions, and the threat of industrial action at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) remains unresolved.
We have learned that a critical meeting led by Principal Secretary for Transport Mohamed Daghar to defuse the crisis ended without a resolution.
This standoff threatens the future operations of the region’s busiest airport.
The Kenya Airports Workers Union (KAWU) has called a general meeting in Embakasi on Saturday, August 10, at which they intend to issue strike directives.
Looming strike from KAA workers as they want the JKIA lease halted#WeekendPrime pic.twitter.com/Ouf841k9Uj
— KTN News (@KTNNewsKE) August 3, 2024
This comes after a seven-day strike notice was issued earlier this week, with workers expected to go on strike as early as next week.
Moses Ndiema, KAWU Secretary General, confirmed the failed meeting.
“The workers are resolute. They will not negotiate until their demands are met.”
He further asserted, “If the people we want to resign are sent home, then the PS can now explain the deal to us.”
The proposed Ksh246 billion lease agreement for JKIA to India’s Adani Airport Holdings Limited is at the heart of the dispute.
The agreement calls for the construction of a new passenger terminal as well as the refurbishment of existing facilities under a 30-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract.
Workers are concerned that this deal will result in job losses and have demanded the immediate resignation of key KAA officials, including the Acting Managing Director, General Manager of Engineering, and General Manager of Human Resource Development.
During the meeting at KAA headquarters, PS Daghar emphasized the benefits of the agreement and urged the union to back it.
However, KAWU categorically rejected the proposal, urging the government to address their concerns first.
“We don’t believe them. We don’t have faith in them at all,” Ndiema stated.
Ndiema said this while reflecting on the deep distrust between workers and the government.
The discontent stems from the possibility that KAA employees’ contracts will have to be renegotiated, with job losses looming if Adani Airport Holdings wins the bid to manage JKIA.
This prospect has incensed the workers, who have issued an ultimatum to the government to clarify its position on the deal.
Adding to the tension, the government and KAA are facing a lawsuit over the proposed agreement.
Issack Lango Guyo has challenged the $1.85 billion agreement, claiming that it was rushed and violated standard procedures.
The lawsuit seeks to have the agreement declared unconstitutional, further complicating the situation.
This situation has sparked concerns about severe disruptions at JKIA, a critical hub for both domestic and international travel.
The airport’s smooth operation is critical to Kenya’s economy, and any strike could have serious consequences.
Kenyans are bracing for potential chaos, with many frustrated with the government’s handling of the situation.
Union leaders maintain their firm stance, calling for worker solidarity.
The upcoming general meeting in Embakasi is expected to confirm its plans for industrial action unless the government meets its demands.
As a result, pressure is mounting on the government to find a solution that addresses the workers’ concerns while ensuring the continued operation of JKIA.
The implications of this standoff go beyond the immediate conflict.
The handling of the JKIA lease has raised concerns about transparency and the government’s commitment to worker rights.
The outcome of this dispute may establish a precedent for future interactions between state agencies and private investors.
JKIA Workers Insist On Striking Over Adani Takeover Deal Despite Gov’t Interventions
