Strike at Nairobi Airport Leaves Hundreds Stranded

A strike by air traffic control workers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi has disrupted flights for a second consecutive day, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. The strike, which is in response to unresolved concerns regarding working conditions and the implementation of a previously agreed deal, has resulted in widespread delays, cancellations, and diversions.

Kenya Airways reported delays exceeding six hours and has canceled some flights, offering affected passengers the option to change or reschedule their flights without penalty. RwandAir also canceled two flights due to operational constraints linked to the strike.

Passengers have faced long waits at the airport, with some, like Mendel Goldman, having spent over 12 hours waiting for updates. The strike follows a previous two-day dispute in February over collective bargaining issues.

Negotiations between unions and airport management were expected to continue after talks on Sunday ended without an agreement. JKIA is a crucial aviation hub, handling approximately nine million passengers last year.