The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has moved to calm fears over a planned industrial action by unionisable employees of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).
In a statement seen by Radio Generation, KCAA said all statutory functions under the Civil Aviation Act remain unaffected.
The authority further assured Kenyans that air travel will continue without disruption.
“The Authority wishes to reassure the general public, air operators and all aviation stakeholders,” KCAA Director General Emile Arao said.
He stressed that key services such as air traffic control, communication, navigation, surveillance, and aeronautical information services remain fully operational.
The regulator said the safety of aircraft overflying, arriving, or departing Kenyan airports is guaranteed.
“KCAA further reaffirms its commitment to maintaining effective oversight and service delivery in line with the Civil Aviation Act and Specific Operating Regulations,” Arao added.
These measures, according to the Authority, align with international standards and ensure the safety, security, and efficiency of aviation operations in Kenya.
The reassurance comes amid growing concerns from passengers, airlines, and other stakeholders following news of the looming strike.
Industrial action at major airports often sparks fears of massive disruptions, delays, and safety challenges.
The statement comes a few days after a meeting between the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and the Kenya Airport Workers' Union (KAWU) ended in an impasse after the two sides failed to agree on any of the issues raised by airport staff.
The talks followed a seven-day industrial action notice issued by the union, demanding urgent action on workers’ grievances.
Speaking after the meeting, KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema said none of the seven issues raised had been resolved.
“There was only an attempt on one issue, which was set aside for further consultations before it could be addressed,” he said.
“Today we want to confirm that after we issued our strike notice on September 23rd, we held a meeting with the KAA management in an attempt to resolve the issues. Unfortunately, we’ve not been able to resolve any issue, not even one. With at least seven items, I can say there was only an attempt on one, relating to a meeting supposed to happen in Naivasha to deliberate on the human resource instruments. The rest remain unresolved,” Ndiema said.