Airport Strike Rocks Kenya - The New Strike Strands Thousands Of Passengers

Riot Police violence against striking workers - Government answers!

Passengers have been locked out at Nairobi`s international airport terminals as of today, leaving thousands of passengers stranded! Impacting all of the 4 large international airports in Kenya (including Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu!

​More than six workers of Kenya Airways and Kenyan Airports Authority were injured as police broke up their demo and arrested Mr Ndiema of the Workers Union.
The General Service Unit officers in full combat gear descended on the workers who were chanting and waving placards with clubs and kicks.

At least 60 flights have been cancelled so far. Some of the operations have returned as of this afternoon. The strike came as airport workers and personnel are not happy about the merge of the airport authority with the national airline, Kenya Airways. 
The government declared the strike illegal and sent in air force personnel, to ease the situation.
They sent in riot police, using tear gas and batons, to diaper striking workers at Nairobi airport.
Even doe, some flights to regional airports had to be canceled, Kenya Airways says, that the situations is improving. Flights to Mombasa and Amsterdam have departed.
One of the key figures, secretary-general Moss Indiema. of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union has been arrested, as being behind the strike.

Some international and national planes left reportedly, without any passengers.
Travellers complaining about the lack of communication and waiting since hours for updates on their flights.

But there are many, voicing anger over the use of force, to break up the peaceful protest.
According to BBC reporters, there are injured workers, after clashes between rioting police and workers.

The strike began midnight (Kenya time). The unions oppose the merge plans, as the the profit making airports would be taken over by the loss making Kenya Airways.
The aviation workers complain about unfair hiring  of  staff, a poor remuneration, and see the take over as a high risk of losing their jobs.

Transportation minister James Macharia called the striking workers as "criminals", and announced actions against identified workers, who caused the "illegal" distraction.
Also claiming, that no jobs would be lost... Update of Take Over HERE
​Source: KenyaWebNews.com / additional by BBC

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