Atwoli demands release of detained aviation workers amid flight cancellations, protests over JKIA-Adani deal

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has called for the release of aviation workers who he claimed were detained during Wednesday's protests against the proposed JKIA-Adani leasing deal.

Addressing the issue at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Wednesday, Atwoli committed to organising a meeting with the government to discuss the situation.

"The shop stewards who have been arrested should be released immediately. That is part of the conditions on what we are advocating," he said.

At the same time, Atwoli asserted that the ongoing strike by aviation workers could have been prevented if the government had taken action.

He explained that the strike might have been averted if airport workers had received a written guarantee that their jobs would remain secure in the event the Adani Group deal went through.

Atwoli further criticised the government for being vague about the details of the deal, which he believes contributed to the unrest.

"This was a very simple matter where the assurance to workers in writing that our members will not lose jobs and their jobs will remain protected by the government and as is required by law and that assurance alone we wouldn't have been here," he said.

"But a lot of arrogance, the Adani issue is as if it is exclusive to management and government alone and we can't allow that. We are part and parcel of employment and workers arrangements," Atwoli added.

In addition, the COTU Secretary-General urged the striking aviation workers to remain firm, adding that they have the full support of the workers union.

"We are urging our members to remain firm. They have our full support until we report back on this particular issue," he said.

COTU Secretary-General demands the immediate release of aviation union workers who he claims were arrested while protesting the proposed JKIA-Adani leasing deal. pic.twitter.com/6th6NFmLBt

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) September 11, 2024

Stranded passengers

On Wednesday morning, hundreds of travellers were stranded at JKIA as aviation workers staged a go-slow in protest against proposed plans to lease the airport to the Indian company.

At the main airport, there were long queues as operations came to a standstill.

The aviation workers, on the other hand, were chanting and whistling as they protested against the Adani takeover deal.

The situation was similar at Kisumu International Airport as well as Moi International Airport in Mombasa and Eldoret International Airport

The workers at the airports said they are in solidarity with their counterparts at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Passengers stranded at the JKIA Terminal 2 on September 11, 2024. The airport is at a standstill with zero flights departing following aviation workers' strike over the Adani deal. (Photo: Mary Wambui)

No major operations are going on at those airports.

In their statement, Kenya Airport Authority apologised to passengers whose travelling schedules had been affected by the strike.

" We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience and understanding during this time," reads the statement.

The authority urged the passengers to liaise with their respective airlines to confirm their flight status.

Kenya Airways had warned of delays and cancellations of flights to and out of JKIA due to the strike that has paralysed operations.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Airline said they would continue to observe the situation and give an update on the affected flights.

"Kenya Airways would like to alert you that due to the action by some JKIA staff this has resulted in some delays and possible cancellations of some of our flights for both departing and arriving passengers," read the statement.

Jambojet had also suspended all its flights landing or taking off from JKIA.

The airline, in a statement, directed its customers to put on hold their flight schedules to JKIA pending further directives.

"Jambojet wishes to notify guests of flight disruptions due to the ongoing strike by airport workers. All our flights, scheduled to land and take off from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) are hereby on hold until further notice," read the statement in part.