Kenya Aviation Workers to Strike Over Adani Group Airport Deal

Kenya's largest aviation workers union is set to strike in objection to a proposed deal with India's Adani Group to lease and expand the main airport. The government says the airport needs modernisation but is not for sale, and the proposal is under review. A Kenyan court has temporarily blocked the deal.

Kenya's largest aviation workers union announced plans to strike on Wednesday, protesting against a proposed 30-year lease deal with India's Adani Group to expand the country's main airport. This strike action, set to commence at midnight, aims to thwart a deal that aviation workers fear could result in job losses and the employment of non-Kenyan workers.

The Kenyan government has stated that while the airport requires modernization due to overcapacity, it is not for sale. The administration emphasized that any public-private partnership agreement with Adani Group is still under review, with safeguards planned to protect national interests. In July, the government confirmed that Adani's offer was under consideration, and a recent court ruling has temporarily blocked the deal.

Secretary-General of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union, Moss Ndiema, confirmed the strike through a text message to Reuters. The planned industrial action is expected to significantly disrupt operations at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, with reports indicating workers began a slowdown on Tuesday night. Officials from the Kenya Airports Authority have yet to comment on the strike.

(With inputs from agencies.)