Passengers stranded at main Kenya airport as staff protest

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Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Wednesday as aviation workers staged a protest against a proposed takeover by India’s Adani Group. Long queues formed outside the airport as flights were delayed or cancelled, causing widespread frustration among travelers.

The workers, led by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union, launched a "go-slow," deliberately reducing their work pace to create disruptions. Their protest was aimed at halting the government’s plan to lease JKIA to the Adani Group for 30 years, a deal they claim lacks transparency and could result in significant job losses. The government, however, has defended the proposal, stating that the airport is over capacity and requires private investment for upgrades.

Protesters, many blowing plastic trumpets and chanting "Adani must go," were captured on local television. In one video, a police officer appeared to strike a protester with a baton.

Passengers were left frustrated by the lack of communication. One traveler, Wilma van Altena, who had cut short her holiday to return to the Netherlands for a funeral, described the scene as chaotic. “There were hundreds of people outside the airport, and we eventually made it inside, but we’ve had no information. The boards show nothing, and we’ve heard nothing from the airline," she told the BBC.

The Zimbabwean men’s football team was also caught in the disruption. After arriving from a match in Uganda, they were left without updates on their connecting flight to Harare, according to a team official who wished to remain anonymous.

BBC reporter Stewart Maclean, who was also among the stranded passengers, described the situation as calm but frustrating, with cabin crew and pilots also caught up in the delays.

In a statement, the Kenya Airports Authority acknowledged the disruption, saying minimal operations had resumed by 7:00am local time. "We are engaging relevant parties to normalize operations and apologize for any inconvenience caused," the statement read.

The aviation workers' union had earlier warned of an indefinite strike over the government’s failure to disclose details of the deal with the Adani Group. The Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission have also voiced opposition to the deal, filing a legal challenge that resulted in the High Court temporarily halting the lease. A final court decision is yet to be scheduled.