Hundreds of travelers were left stranded at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as airport staff staged a protest against the proposed lease of the airport to India’s Adani Group.
The industrial action, which involved workers deliberately slowing down operations, caused widespread flight delays and cancellations on Wednesday.
The aviation workers union opposed the 30-year lease, labeling the deal as unclear and warning it could lead to job cuts. The Kenyan government, however, defended the move, stating that the airport was overburdened and in need of private investment to upgrade its facilities.
Protesters gathered outside the airport, chanting slogans such as “Adani must go” and blowing plastic horns. Footage broadcast by Citizen TV also captured a police officer hitting a protester with a baton.
Wilma van Altena, a Dutch tourist who cut her vacation short to attend a funeral, was among the many passengers affected by the disruption.
“It’s been chaotic… there were hundreds of people outside the airport when we arrived, and we stood around and eventually made it inside,” she told the BBC.
“We have no information. There’s nothing on the boards, we’ve heard nothing from the airline. I need to get home, but I have no idea when that will happen.”
The Zimbabwe men’s football team was also stranded.
The squad had flown into Nairobi after an African Cup of Nations qualifier game in Uganda, but had been given no information about their onwards flight to Harare, an official who did not want to be named told the BBC.
The BBC’s Stewart Maclean, who is among those waiting to catch a flight, said that at around 05:45 BST (07:45 local time), the hundreds queueing outside the airport were calm, patient, but frustrated.
He said that cabin crew and pilots were among those waiting.
In a statement, the Kenya Airports Authority said: “As of 7:00 am, minimal operations had resumed.”
“In the meantime, we are engaging relevant parties to normalise operations. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.”
The Kenya Aviation Workers’ Union had earlier threatened an indefinite strike due to the government’s refusal to reveal details of the proposed lease agreement with the Adani Group. Both the Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission have also condemned the deal, stating that leasing such an important national asset to a private entity is unjustifiable.
These two organizations took legal action, filing a case in the High Court, which has since suspended the agreement to permit a judicial review. A final court ruling on the matter is still pending, with no specific date set for the decision.