There were chaotic scenes at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) overnight as staff went on strike early Wednesday in protest against a planned takeover by India’s Adani Group.
According to sources, the airport came to a complete standstill early Wednesday, with management preparing to release a statement. The Kenyan Aviation Workers Union confirmed the strike began at midnight on X.
Social media images showed passengers scrambling to retrieve their baggage as the strike took effect. The controversy centers around plans to lease JKIA to Adani Group for 30 years in exchange for a $1.85 billion investment. Critics argue that the deal will result in job losses for local employees and deprive taxpayers of future airport profits.
JKIA generates over five percent of Kenya’s GDP through freight and passenger fees. The Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission successfully obtained a High Court delay on Monday, citing concerns about the deal’s “transparency.”
The Kenyan government has defended the deal, stating it is essential for refurbishing JKIA, one of Africa’s busiest airports. Despite handling 8.8 million passengers and 380,000 tonnes of cargo in 2022-23, JKIA frequently suffers from power outages and leaking roofs. Under the plan, Adani would add a second runway and upgrade the passenger terminal, according to the Kenya Airport Authority.
