Kenya airport strike strands thousands of passengers – By BBC Newsroom (BBC) / March 6 2019
Thousands of passengers have been stranded in Kenya’s four main airports after a strike by workers caused major disruption to flights.
Workers say they are unhappy over a planned merger between the airport authority and the national airline.
About 60 flights failed to take off at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – East Africa’s largest. Some planes reportedly left without passengers.
Airports in Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu are also disrupted.
The government has condemned the strike as illegal and Kenyan air force personnel have been brought in to normalise the situation.
Riot police were deployed and they used tear gas and batons to disperse striking workers at the capital’s main airport, local media say.
KQ 116 to Amsterdam boarded and ready to depart. We will keep you updated. pic.twitter.com/h7E6UpxCfC
— Kenya Airways (@KenyaAirways) March 6, 2019
Kenya Airways says that the situation is now improving, with flights to Amsterdam, London and Mumbai boarded and ready to leave, while domestic flights were “set to resume shortly”.
A key figure in organising the strike, Kenya Aviation Workers Union secretary-general Moss Ndiema, has been arrested.
How are people reacting?
Frustrated passengers have complained of a lack of information and support from the authorities, with travellers waiting for hours with no update on their flights.
What message is @KenyaAirports passing? Do you recognise this is an international airport and you are inconveniencing travellers including infants, young children, expecting mothers & old people. Could you not find other ways or raising your griverncies? #JKIA
— Ali Abdullahi (@Earlie_tall) March 6, 2019
Others voiced anger at the police’s use of force to break up the protest.
The BBC’s Lynne Wachira saw one man bleeding from the head, after being injured in the clashes between workers and riot police.
Police should stop chasing the workers within the airport. We are embarrassing ourselves as a nation JKIA is an international airport. @KenyaAirways @citizentvkenya #JKIA pic.twitter.com/5EHUee8FtF
— Brian Robert (@bradsfashionke) March 6, 2019
What is the strike about?
It began at midnight local time (21:00 GMT on Tuesday). Fire engines were withdrawn from the runway, and security, check-in and baggage-handling staff also stopped working.
The unions are opposed to a plan that would see the loss-making Kenya Airways taking over the management of airports from the profit-making Kenya Airports Authority (KAA).
The aviation workers complain of unfair staff hiring, poor remuneration and that the proposed take-over would put their jobs at risk.
Image caption Riot police used batons and tear gas to disperse striking workers on Wednesday
Transport Minister James Macharia told journalists that jobs would not be lost in the merger, and branded the workers who caused the disruption “criminals”.
“We have identified those who were involved and action will follow shortly,” Mr Macharia said.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47467271
