The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has announced the successful resolution of a labour dispute with the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), averting a planned strike that had threatened operations at key airports.
KAA said the seven-day strike notice issued by KAWU on September 23, 2025, has been called off following constructive and collaborative discussions between the two parties and relevant government ministries.
According to the Authority, the breakthrough was reached after several rounds of consultations involving KAA, the union, the Ministry of Roads and Transport, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
KAA’s Acting Managing Director, Mohamud Gedi, expressed gratitude to the KAA Board of Directors, led by Chairman Caleb Kositany, as well as government ministries for facilitating the talks.
He also commended KAWU for its constructive engagement throughout the process.
“Passengers, airlines, and partners can be assured of our commitment to excellent customer experience across all KAA-managed airports. The Authority remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards of safety, security, and service excellence,” Gedi said in a statement.
The resolution comes a few days after initial talks ended with an impasse.
At the heart of the standoff was the alleged transfer of Ground Flight Safety (GFS) operations from KAA to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), a move the union said was done without consultation and could lead to massive job losses and reduced revenue for KAA.
In a letter dated September 22, 2025, KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema warned that the GFS transfer was already having dire consequences.
“Despite this matter being of grave concern to the Union, the management has neither consulted us nor shared with us any information regarding the matter,” he said, adding that KCAA had already hired its own GFS staff, confirming workers’ worst fears.
The union had also accused KAA of failing to confirm more than 500 employees from contract to permanent and pensionable terms despite years of service.
Other grievances included the failure to substantively appoint staff who have been promoted, non-payment of overtime allowances for Wilson Airport workers for over six months, and the dismantling of the human resources department, which the union says has crippled the resolution of key labour issues.
Three Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) also remained unresolved, according to the union.