Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) staff are currently staging a protest against the planned takeover of JKIA by Indian firm Adani Group.
This demonstration comes in the wake of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) suspending a planned strike that was set to begin on Monday, August 5, 2024.
The protest, visible in recent social media footage, shows KAA employees marching inside JKIA Airport highlighting their dissatisfaction with the lease deal.
The staff are voicing concerns over the lack of communication and transparency regarding the Adani Group’s involvement in JKIA.
The KAWU had initially announced a strike set for August 11, 2024, due to grievances over the Adani lease deal.
However, during a meeting at Embakasi Social Hall in Nairobi on Saturday, the union decided to postpone the industrial action for one week.
This decision was made to allow time for a thorough review of the contract documents related to the Adani airport deal, which had been made available to them.
Despite the suspension, KAWU has issued three key demands: the immediate halt of Adani representatives’ activities at JKIA, notification about developments concerning the lease deal, and the prevention of union representatives from traveling to India to tour Adani offices.
The union has expressed frustration over the partial availability of the requested documents, with only two out of the ten demanded being provided.
KAWU Secretary General Moses Ndiema emphasized that their review of the documents should not be undermined by ongoing engagements with stakeholders.
He warned that if their demands are not met within the week, the planned industrial action will proceed as scheduled.
“We are making a demand that all engagements with stakeholders be stopped because we cannot be taking time to read and understand the documents that have been given to us while the process is ongoing,” Ndiema stated.
“If our concerns are not addressed within the next week, we will commence our strike action.”
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