Kenya’s aviation sector has been spared a major disruption after Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) suspended its planned strike following a deal with the government and key aviation agencies.
Key players, including the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Kenya Airways (KQ) and Jambojet, tabled several measures to resolve labour disputes that had triggered the strike notice, resulting in the industrial action being placed on hold.
Among the key issues to be addressed are concerns over employment terms, dismissals, collective bargaining agreements, human resource policies and the planned deployment of National Youth Service (NYS) personnel into aviation roles.
The agreement was reached on July 27, 2026, after negotiations between KAWU, the aviation agencies and the Ministry of Roads and Transport, paving the way for fresh talks aimed at finding a lasting solution to the disputes.
The talks were chaired by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and attended by Principal Secretary for Aviation and Aerospace Development Teresia Mbaika, who said the parties had agreed on a roadmap to handle the issues raised in the union’s strike notice.
Mbaika said the Union had agreed to suspend the strike notice issued on July 20, 2026, with all parties committing to resolve the outstanding concerns within 30 days.
“The Union hereby suspends the strike notice dated July 20, 2026. We have given ourselves at most 30 days to make sure all these issues are addressed. We expect that by the end of the 30 days everything will have been settled,” Mbaika said.
Under the agreement, discussions involving KQ and Jambojet will take place on July 28, 2026, except for a Jambojet recognition agreement dispute that remains before the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
“The Kenya Airways and Jambojet matters in the strike notice shall be discussed on July 28, save for the Jambojet matter currently before the court on the recognition agreement,” she said.
The grievances involving the KAA will be discussed on July 29, 2026, while negotiations on KCAA’s delayed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will begin immediately. Talks on KCAA’s human resource instruments are scheduled for July 30, 2026.
The agreement further provides that there will be no victimisation of either employees or employers arising from the strike notice, allowing both sides to participate in the negotiations without fear of disciplinary action linked to the dispute.
“There shall be no will be no victimisation from either side arising out of the strike notice,” Mbaika said.
As part of the agreement, KQ and Jambojet will withdraw two cases filed before the Employment and Labour Relations Court to create room for dialogue and negotiations.
KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema confirmed that the planned industrial action had been suspended, assuring travellers and aviation stakeholders that airport operations would continue without interruptions linked to the strike.
“I confirm that our strike action through a strike notice issued on July 20 stands suspended and so there is no anticipation for any disruptions whatsoever arising from the intended strike action,” Ndiema said.
However, Ndiema clarified that the suspension did not mean the issues raised by workers had been resolved, saying they would now be handled through the agreed negotiation process.
“We have agreed on a framework on how to resolve those issues. As you may realise, it was not going to be possible for all of those issues to be addressed today,” he said.
“That is why every organisation with whom we had a dispute has a date. We are beginning with the Jambojet issues around terminations and dismissals, and KQ issues tomorrow. So they have not been addressed yet, but we have agreed on how to go about it.”
The strike notice had raised concerns over reported plans by KCAA to deploy NYS personnel into positions traditionally handled by aviation workers while some permanent vacancies remained unfilled.
The matter also drew the attention of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Kenya), which supported KAWU’s concerns and called for proper engagement before any staffing changes are introduced.
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli said the labour movement supports the recruitment of NYS graduates but insisted that workers undertaking permanent and continuous duties should be employed on permanent terms.
“On the contrary, we strongly support their integration into the labour market,” Atwoli said, adding that workers performing permanent and continuous functions should be employed on permanent terms.
COTU said permanent vacancies should be filled through competitive recruitment processes that provide job security, fair remuneration and protection under Kenya’s labour laws.
The organisation also urged public institutions to avoid replacing permanent employees with insecure forms of employment as a way of cutting costs.
“COTU (K) stands firmly with KAWU and all aviation workers in defending decent work, employment security and the integrity of Kenya’s public service. The government, and by extension all public institutions, must lead by example in protecting labour standards and not in promoting cheap labour at the expense of Kenyan workers,” it said.
With the strike suspended, flights, cargo operations and other airport services across the country, including those at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and other public airports, will continue as scheduled as the parties begin negotiations to resolve the remaining labour disputes.
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