Kenya’s skies face a potential shutdown as the aviation regulator triggers continuity plans to counter a strike by workers demanding the implementation of a Collective Bargaining Agreement that has stalled for over a decade.

The standoff between the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has escalated from a labor dispute into a national security concern. With a seven-day strike notice having expired, KCAA management has activated "operational continuity protocols" to ensure that critical air navigation services—the invisible hand guiding every flight in Kenyan airspace—remain functional.

At the heart of this conflict is a profound sense of betrayal. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-13)Union Secretary General Moss Ndiema has accused the authority of stalling on a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that dates back to 2015. "We will never beg," Ndiema declared in a fiery press briefing, signaling a departure from diplomatic negotiations to direct action.

The Bone of Contention

The union’s grievances paint a picture of a workforce squeezed by inflation and administrative inertia. The core demands include:

• The Forgotten CBA: Implementation of salary reviews pending since 2015.
• Casualization of Labor: An end to the "illegal outsourcing" of core roles and the perpetual use of temporary contracts for permanent positions.
• Union Dues: The immediate release of deducted union dues, which KAWU claims are being weaponized to starve the union of resources.

Safety vs. Rights

Despite a court order temporarily suspending the strike, the atmosphere at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) remains tense. KCAA Director General Emile Arao has sought to reassure international carriers that "aviation safety oversight remains uncompromised." However, the union’s threat of a "tumultuous week" suggests that slowdowns or "work-to-rule" tactics could still disrupt schedules.

This confrontation places the government in a precarious position. A disruption in air services would not only hemorrhage tourism revenue but also damage Nairobi's reputation as the regional aviation hub. As the clock ticks, the question remains: Can KCAA navigate this turbulence without a crash landing in labor relations?