Kenya: William Ruto's government apologizes for airport disruptions as aviation workers end strike
The William Ruto administration has apologized to passengers affected by the recent aviation workers' strike in Kenya. The Kenya Aviation Workers Union KAWU called off the industrial action after reaching a return-to-work agreement with the Ministry of Transport and other involved parties. This agreement allows aviation workers to resume duties immediately, aiming to restore normal operations at airports across the country, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport JKIA, Moi International Airport, Eldoret International Airport, and Kisumu International Airport, which had experienced widespread disruptions and left thousands of travelers stranded. Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi expressed regret for the inconvenience caused. Under the agreement, KAWU and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority KCAA will begin negotiations for a Collective Bargaining Agreement CBA, with KCAA committing to implement the outcome. Discussions regarding salaries will adhere to guidelines from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission SRC. A separate dispute between KAWU and Jambojet concerning a recognition agreement will be resolved through court proceedings. The strike, which began on August 29, had severely impacted airport operations, leading to long queues and delays.
