By 7 a.m. on Wednesday, minimal operations had resumed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) following a disruptive strike by unionized airport personnel.
The strike, which commenced earlier in defiance of a court ruling, resulted in significant delays and confusion for both travelers and airlines.
In a statement released by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Managing Director Henry Ocoye confirmed that efforts were being made to fully restore services.
“We are engaging relevant parties to normalise operations. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience during this time,” he said.
KAA urged passengers to reach out to their airlines to verify the status of their flights, as ongoing disruptions could still affect schedules.
The situation at Kenya’s largest airport deteriorated in the early hours of Wednesday when employees initiated a strike in response to a proposed takeover by the Indian firm Adani.
The standoff left both domestic and international passengers stranded as staff protested against the arrangement with the enigmatic Indian corporation.
Social media images captured the scene, showing large crowds of travelers struggling to reclaim their luggage at JKIA.
The contentious plan to lease the airport to India’s Adani Group for 30 years in exchange for a $1.85 billion investment has ignited public outrage.
Critics contend that this agreement will lead to job losses for local workers and deprive taxpayers of future airport revenues.
Freight and passenger fees from JKIA contribute over 5% to Kenya’s GDP. The Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission successfully obtained a delay from the High Court on Monday, arguing that the contract lacked “transparency.”
The government of Kenya has defended the deal, stating it is crucial for the refurbishment of JKIA. As one of Africa’s busiest aviation hubs, the airport handled 8.8 million passengers and 380,000 tonnes of cargo during the 2022-23 fiscal year, yet it frequently faces issues such as power outages and leaking roofs.
According to the Kenya Airport Authority, Adani is expected to add a second runway and enhance the passenger terminal, raising hopes for improved services.
However, skepticism persists among many citizens regarding the long-term impact of this partnership.
Author: Mujuni Henry
JUNIITV
Related Posts 📫
