Passengers Stranded At JKIA As Workers Down Tools
Passengers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have been left stranded after flights were disrupted following an industrial action by aviation workers.
Among those who were stranded include Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, who took to his Facebook Page to vent.
“We are stranded at JKIA since 3am. All flights grounded. All Kenya Airports Authority Workers on strike led by their CEO Jonny Andersen,” said Kuria.
According to reports by the Nation, the workers are unhappy with the board of management, unfair staff hiring and compensation and proposed takeover of the airport by Kenya Airways.
Long queues have formed at the airport’s gates while some of the airport’s entry points had been closed.
Some flights were delayed or rescheduled.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (Kawu) has questioned the proposed merger of the loss-making airline and the Kenya Aviation Authority (KAA).
The union’s members include cabin crew, security, air traffic controllers, and aircraft maintenance service providers.
Kawu is demanding the removal from office of KAA Chief Executive Johnny Andersen and chairman of the board Isaac Awuondo and their KQ counterparts.
The union has questioned how the national carrier’s CEO Sebastian Mikosz, board chairman Michael Joseph and a team of managers and consultants were allegedly paid a whopping Ksh1.3 billion ($13 million) in 18 months.
They want the KQ and KAA managers and directors to be shown the door.
“It is only then that workers in this industry will have the confidence that the issues affecting them will be addressed,” Kawu secretary-general Moses Ndiema said.