On Wednesday morning, with the latest international departures still delayed from the previous night and arrivals from abroad slowly returning to their scheduled times, there is finally a different atmosphere at Kenya's airports. The resumption of Qatar Airways flights to and from Doha and the gradual clearing of overcrowding on domestic flights, particularly those operated by Jambojet, mark the end of the confusion caused by the day-and-a-half strike by airport workers. By the end of the morning, barring any further unforeseen events, the situation should finally return to normal.
The turning point came yesterday, Tuesday afternoon, when the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) announced the suspension of the strike that began on Monday and had paralyzed operations at all major airports in the country, starting with Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. The decision came after lengthy discussions with the Ministry of Transport, led by Davis Chirchir, the Ministry of Labor, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), which concluded with an agreement to resume operations immediately and begin a conciliation process to address the workers' demands.
However, the disruption continued throughout yesterday. At JKIA, there were delays of up to four hours, cancellations, and diversions of international flights, while hundreds of passengers were stranded at airports or had to reschedule their trips. Airlines, including the national carrier Kenya Airways, urged travelers to check flight status before traveling to airports in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret.
The strike, described by union secretary general Moss Ndiema as a full-scale industrial action and not a simple slowdown, was called to protest against wages that have been frozen for over a decade, working conditions deemed inadequate, the spread of precarious contracts, and the failure to implement career progression and benefits that had already been agreed upon. Other issues included delays in the payment of union dues and opposition to a new human resources structure that would have penalized several workers.
The Kenya Airports Authority confirmed that operations are now returning to normal at all airports, urging passengers to stay in touch with airlines for any updates on schedules. Minister Chirchir stressed the strategic importance of the aviation sector to the national economy and the government's desire to ensure stability and operational continuity.
The consequences of the strike were felt even beyond Kenya's borders: among the most emblematic cases, the Egyptian team Zamalek was stranded in Cairo, unable to reach Nairobi for a CAF Confederation Cup match against Kenya Police FC.
Now, with staff gradually returning to work and the backlog accumulated between Monday and Tuesday being cleared, Kenyan airports are slowly returning to their usual routine. The scars of those 48 hours remain, reminding us once again how fragile the delicate balance on which the country's airport system operates can be.