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November 7, 2024
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Passengers Stranded, Flights Canceled as Airport Staff Strike

Airlines have started canceling flights to Nairobi following a strike by staff at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Chimp Corps report.

The strike against the government’s plans to lease the airport to Indian conglomerate Adani.

“Due to the ongoing strike by airport staff at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, our flights WB452/WB453 KGL/NBO/KGL on 11 September 2024 are canceled,” said RwandAir in a statement on Tuesday night.

“All affected passengers will be rebooked on the next available flights. We apologize for any inconvenience caused,” the Rwandan airline added.

Thousands of passengers are stranded at JKIA as the government struggles to return airport staff to work.

Kenya’s High Court on Tuesday granted Kenya Law Society’s (KLS) request for leave to file a judicial review to challenge the Kenya Airports Authority’s decision to lease JKIA to Adani for 30 years.

“The court has meanwhile issued a stay prohibiting any person from implementing or acting on the privately initiated Adani proposal over JKIA pending the conclusion of the court case,” said KLS President, Faith Odhiambo.

The Indian firm has committed to upgrade the airport, including the construction of a second runway and a new passenger terminal under a 30-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract.

However, the law society said Kenya can independently raise the estimated $1.85 billion or Ksh238 billion needed to expand JKIA without leasing the airport for the stated period.

The airport staff say they will lose their jobs when Adani takes over management of the airport.

JKIA, the busiest airport in East Africa, boasts over 40 passenger airlines and 25 cargo airlines.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, formerly called Embakasi Airport and Nairobi International Airport, is Kenya’s largest aviation facility, and the busiest airport in East Africa.

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