Kenyan airport workers are gearing up for a potential strike as tensions escalate over the government's proposed deal with India's Adani Airport Holdings.
Despite considerable public outcry and legal challenges, the deal, which involves leasing Kenya’s main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), to Adani, continues to advance.
On August 19, airport employees are set to walk off the job if their demands are not met. The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has been scrambling to prevent this industrial action by arranging meetings to clarify the details of the deal.
A leaked internal from the Acting Managing Director of KAA, signed by Joseph O. Okumu, has called for a consultation forum on August 20, 2024, to address the concerns of the workers.
The memo from Okumu, dated August 16, indicates that KAA has engaged Transaction Advisors to ensure a thorough due diligence process regarding the proposed public-private partnership. The memo urges employees to participate in the forum, which will be held at the State Pavilion.
The airport workers, represented by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), have voiced strong opposition to the deal, fearing that it could lead to significant job losses and the employment of foreign workers.
The union has demanded the resignation of key KAA officials, including Okumu, the General Manager of Engineering, and the General Manager of Human Resource Development.
In a post on X social media, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, who has been pushing the government to come clean on the deal stated, “The government is determined to lease out JKIA despite the controversy surrounding this deal.”
KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema has reiterated the union’s stance, stating that the strike will only be reconsidered if the government abandons the deal entirely. He has also called for the resignation of the entire KAA board.
The government, however, maintains that JKIA is not being sold but rather that discussions are ongoing about a proposed partnership aimed at upgrading the airport. Officials argue that JKIA is operating beyond its capacity and requires significant investment, which they claim is not feasible under current financial constraints.
The modernisation project, estimated to cost around $2 billion, is seen as critical due to the airport’s current issues, including outdated infrastructure.
The proposal from Adani includes plans for a new runway and an upgraded passenger terminal, but concerns persist about the implications for local jobs and the transparency of the deal. The government has promised that any agreement will include measures to safeguard national interests.
Public sentiment is further inflamed by a youth-led protest movement that has criticised the lack of transparency surrounding the deal.
Protests in June over proposed tax hikes have already demonstrated the potential for public unrest, and recent attempts to shut down JKIA were thwarted by police.
With a potential strike looming, the KAA is on high alert and has announced contingency plans to minimise disruption if the industrial action goes ahead.
The authority is working with the Ministry of Roads and Transport, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, and KAWU to find a resolution.
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