Passengers stranded overnight by Kenya airport strike

NAIROBI, August 31 - At least a hundred travelers were left stranded overnight at Kenya's principal international airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), in the capital city of Nairobi, as the ongoing labor dispute entered its second day. JKIA, a significant transit point for east African travelers and a crucial component of the country's tourism industry, has been the site of several labor protests in the past due to demands for improved working conditions.

Several flights were halted or delayed on Sunday, and an AFP correspondent witnessed a large number of passengers confined at the airport, with local media reporting that many were compelled to remain there throughout the night. Kenya Airways reported that flights were departing with a typical delay of two to three hours.

"It's a mess," 22-year-old traveler William Obino lamented to AFP. "I have no idea what's going on. The updates we receive are coming in too late. It's throwing our travel plans into disarray."

The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has initiated the strike due to the persistent failure of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement. They also object to the utilization of volunteers from the National Youth Service as airport personnel.

The KAA, for its part, stated that they are "collaborating closely with relevant aviation authorities, airlines, and other stakeholders to handle the situation, mitigate disruptions, and ensure the smooth operation of airport activities."