The latest strike notice by aviation workers has renewed concerns over the government’s handling of labour disputes in sensitive sectors, with the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) accusing the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) of failing to honour agreements reached to end an earlier dispute.

KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiemo issued a seven-day strike notice on Friday, July 17, 2026, warning that aviation operations across the country could be disrupted if the outstanding grievances are not addressed.

“Seven days from 20th on Monday, you are likely to face inconveniences. You are likely to run into challenges if you are to use any other facility in this republic,” Ndiemo said.

Workers demand implementation of agreement

The union’s latest threat comes months after a similar dispute in which KAWU accused KCAA of breaching a return-to-work formula signed on February 17, 2026, following an earlier strike that disrupted operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and other aviation facilities.

The agreement provided for the unionisation of employees in grades four and five, compliance with court orders and protection of workers from victimisation.

Ndiemo said the aviation sector could not achieve sustainable growth if workers’ rights continued to be overlooked.

“We want a successful prosperous aviation sector. Because that cannot be achieved at the detriment of workers’ rights,” he said.

In March 2026, the union had also accused KCAA of failing to honour the same agreement, warning of further industrial action over the unresolved issues.

“Kenya Civil Aviation Authority management is unable to respect the return-to-work agreement, which we signed before the CS Transport Davis Chirchir on February 17, 2026,” Ndiema said at the time.

Disputes over workers’ rights

The union further accused KCAA of failing to comply with court orders and cited the dismissal of an employee who, according to Ndiema, was sacked without being issued with a show-cause letter or given an opportunity to defend themselves.

“We have a court decision that was made last year, in September, in respect to an employee who was dismissed unfairly. KCAA does not want to respect that… This is the law of the jungle, and we are saying that is not how progressive organisations like KCAA should behave,” he said.

The recurring dispute raises questions about the effectiveness of agreements reached between employers and workers to end strikes. While such agreements are expected to provide lasting solutions, failure to implement them risks pushing employees back into industrial action.

More labour disputes emerge

The aviation strike threat comes amid growing labour tensions in other sensitive sectors. In Nandi County, clinical officers have also issued a strike notice over the delayed implementation of the 2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers, Nandi chapter, said its members would down their tools from July 20, 2027, over the unresolved labour issues.

The developments place renewed pressure on authorities to address workers’ grievances through timely negotiations and honour agreements already reached before disputes escalate into strikes that disrupt essential services.