Ministry of Labour Vows to Address Aviation Workers’ Demands After Protests Over Adani Deal

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
Photo
Trip Advisor

The government through the Ministry of Labour on Wednesday promised to address the concerns raised by aviation workers during their recent demonstrations.

In a meeting presided by Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, the government said it would provide all the information about the planned leasing of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Adani group, an Indian conglomerate.

During the engagement, the CS noted the employees lacked a complete understanding of key issues affecting their welfare, a factor which Mutua claimed led to the spread of rumors.

CS Mutua called on the workers to seek out accurate information regarding the deal instead of basing the argument on unfounded information.

Labour CS Nominee Alfred Mutua appearing in Parliament.
Labour CS Alfred Mutua appearing in Parliament.
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Alfred Mutua

Following the deliberations, the CS revealed he would hold another meeting with the Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir next week to put an end to the stalemate.

"I listened closely to their grievances and appreciated the need for better communication from their employer," the Labour CS reiterated.

"I requested that the workers wait for the release of the necessary documents and further clarification from their employer before taking any further action."

The minister assured the workers of the ministry’s commitment to promptly address their concerns especially on how the proposed Public-Private Agreement will affect their rights and employment terms.

CS Mutua's intervention comes hardly two days after the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) staff staged demonstrations protesting the government's plan to lease Kenya's main airport.

During the protests, the workers gathered at the KAA head office, voicing their concerns before being addressed by their Acting Managing Director Henry Ogoye.

In his address, Ogoye directed the workers to submit memoranda on their issues for them to be addressed. 

The airport workers held the protests despite calling of the demonstrations a day before. On August 31, the workers postponed a strike that had been planned for September 1 to allow room for talks.

The protests were called off  following President William Ruto's intervention after he met with union leaders and top government officials on Monday, August 26.

Ruto
A collage of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and President William Ruto, August 28.
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KAA, PCS