By Ezekiel David
Operations at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) were severely disrupted on Wednesday as aviation workers went on strike to protest a proposed takeover by India’s Adani Group.
Hundreds of passengers were left stranded, facing flight delays and cancellations.
The contentious proposal to lease JKIA to Adani for 30 years is the main cause of the walkout, which was called by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union. The union claims that the agreement is opaque and may result in a large loss of jobs.
“As of 7:00 am, minimal operations had resumed,” JKIA said in a statement, acknowledging the disruptions. “We are engaging relevant parties to normalise operations.”
The government has defended the proposed deal, stating that JKIA is operating beyond its capacity and requires private investment for upgrades.
Proposals to lease a crucial national asset to a private firm are unreasonable, according to the Kenya Human Rights Commission and the Law Society of Kenya. The agreement has been placed on hold while a court issues a decision due to a lawsuit.
(Source: BBC)
