By Ukumbi Afrika 
Tuesday, 1st September 2026
Nairobi—Kenya's aviation workers have called off a strike that disrupted flights at the country's main international airport and caused delays across East Africa, officials and union leaders said on Tuesday.
The Kenya Aviation Workers' Union (KAWU) said air traffic controllers would begin returning to duty and clearing flights after the union, aviation authorities and airline operator Jambojet agreed to a return-to-work arrangement.
The strike, which began on Sunday and was largely led by air traffic controllers, disrupted operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. The impact spread to regional airports and international routes, with airlines cancelling and rescheduling flights across East Africa and beyond.
Return To Work Agreement
Transport Minister Davis Chirchir said the agreement provides a framework for addressing several long-standing labour disputes, including three collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) that have been suspended since 2015.
“We have looked at various issues … with very clear guidelines … on how we are going to deal with the three CBAs, ” Chirchir said.
KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema urged striking workers to resume their duties and help restore normal airport operations.
“We are simply calling off our strike action and pleading with our members to begin the process of normalising operations, restoring services, ” Ndiema told reporters.
“For those who are on duty, we are asking them to begin clearing flights.”
Long Running Labour Disputes
The union's grievances have centred on several issues involving the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Kenya Airports Authority and Jambojet.
Among the disputes are the absence of a collective bargaining agreement at the Civil Aviation Authority, delayed salary reviews, disagreements over union dues at KAA and allegations of victimisation of union members at Jambojet.
The union had previously sought court-backed intervention over the unresolved issues.
Regional Impact
The disruption at Nairobi's airport had repercussions well beyond Kenya. Airlines operating routes to Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia and Mauritius were forced to cancel or reschedule flights.
Passengers at JKIA reported waiting for hours for information as the disruption continued into Monday.
The return-to-work agreement is expected to allow airlines and airports to progressively restore normal schedules, although passengers affected by cancellations and rescheduling may still face knock-on delays.
What Happens Next?
The parties said negotiations on all outstanding issues would continue following the end of the strike. The immediate priority is to restore flight operations while working towards resolving the collective bargaining and employment disputes that triggered the industrial action.
Source: Reuters
Reporting: George Obulutsa and Vincent Mumo Nzilani
Editing: Tom Hogue