Travelers using East Africa's busiest aviation hub, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, have been thrown into paralysis following a strike by aviation workers starting Monday.

The aviation workers, who have downed their tools demanding better pay and working conditions, have caused the delay and or cancellation of scheduled flights from JKIA, negatively impacting the operations of flag carrier Kenya Airways. 

"Following the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority's statement on the implementation of contingency measures to safeguard aviation safety and service continuity on 16th February 2026, we are currently experiencing air traffic control operational delays at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), affecting certain departures and arrivals," Kenya Airways announced to passengers in an update on X (formerly Twitter).

Also affected by the strike which started at 06:00hours on Monday was budget carrier Jambojet. 

"Our teams are actively monitoring the situation and working with relevant stakeholders on any developments to minimize disruption to our schedule... all the affected guests will continue receiving regular flight status," Jambojet stated.

While announcing a flight delay and a cancellation, regional carrier and Rwanda's flag carrier, Rwandair, noted "RwandAir advises passengers that some flights departing and arriving in Nairobi may be affected. The disruptions are linked to an ongoing labour dispute impacting airport operations."

The paralysis of air transport services at East Africa's busiest airport comes hot on the heels of a notice seven days ago by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), which said its members will down their tools to demand improved pay and working environment.

KAWU Secretary-General Moss Ndiema told the Daily Nation that the workers work boycott has affected passengers and airlines' operations in Kenya.

"There's a big backlog. Planes are hardly leaving the airports," Ndiema stated.

At the moment, the strike goes contra to an order issued by the Employment and Labour Relations Court that issued a temporary injunction, suspending the industrial action until February 26, 2026.

At the heart of the workers’ demands are a request to immediately roll out a collective bargaining agreement that has been gathering dust for the last 10 years. Some aviation workers claim they have not received a salary riview since 2015.

Additionally, the union is seeking the conversion of the terms of work for staff into permanent and pensionable terms. It is criticising the employer of "casualizing labour terms", simply by re-hiring workers after termination of jobs to skirt offering them their due benefits.

“Before we get a satisfying answer on the issue of the right to representation. Haitaisha kama hawa watu wako contract at KCAA hawajapewa mabarua yao ya permanent and pensionable. Haitaisha until the illegal outsourcing at the EASA comes to an end,” Ndiema told the press.

The workers are also accusing their employer of 'illegal outsourcing" citing continued recruitment of core aviation roles from personnel from the East African School of Aviation.

“Aviation is not a dumpsite. Where those keen on exploiting labour will find refuge, we will make it very difficult for them. In aviation, we want dignity. Work with dignity. One of the components of giving an employee dignity is to give them a fair wage. Pay them fair salaries. Create the right environment,” Ndiema said.

In September 2025, the aviation workers the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) workers raised concerns over stalled CBAs and the need to improve their working conditions. At that point, the warring parties used dialogue to agree on a return to work formula.

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