The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (Kawu) has issued a fresh seven-day strike notice to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (Kcaa), protesting stalled collective bargaining agreement talks, delayed union dues remittances, and alleged discrimination against contract workers.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (Kawu) issued a fresh seven-day strike notice on February 9, 2026, accusing Kcaa management of refusing to negotiate and failing to implement long-pending agreements from 2015, despite multiple rounds of talks and conciliation meetings. The union highlighted concerns over contract workers' rights, who have been denied benefits and recognition afforded to permanent staff despite performing similar duties.
Kawu stressed that industrial action, set for February 16, 2026, will be unavoidable unless Kcaa addresses the issues comprehensively, warning it could paralyze air traffic operations, airport management, and technical services nationwide. This latest notice follows another seven-day warning about three weeks earlier, after discussions with the government and Kcaa on salary increments.
Kawu Secretary General Moses Ndiema stated that union members had exhausted all avenues for dialogue, which proved futile. "We will close the airspace, ground everything, and shut down all Kenyan airports. This is a warning," Ndiema said in a January 21, 2026, media briefing. Some employees have gone over 11 years without a pay review, amid accusations of unfair labor practices and stalled salary adjustments spanning a decade.
The previous aviation workers' strike occurred in September 2025, disrupting services at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and other facilities, stranding passengers for about two days until government intervention. Kawu warned that without urgent action, the planned strike would severely impact domestic and international flights.
