Operations at Moi International Airport in Mombasa came to a halt on Wednesday after a group of airport workers held demonstrations inside the facility. Passengers faced delays as security officers worked to restore order at Kenya’s second-largest airport.
Footage shared on social media showed workers rallying their colleagues and vowing to continue protesting until their demands were addressed. Meanwhile, passengers were seen patiently waiting in line at security checks, hoping to proceed with their journeys.
One passenger shared with the press that his flight had been delayed by about an hour and a half due to the demonstrations. Despite the disruptions, airport management assured travelers that the delays would be resolved soon.
“My flight was scheduled to depart Mombasa at 9:30 a.m., but I’ve been waiting for roughly one and a half hours. I’m hopeful that I will still be able to travel to Nairobi,” said the passenger. “An officer informed us about the delays and assured us they were working to resolve the issue.”
The protests at Moi International Airport in Mombasa followed similar disruptions earlier in the day at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. Aviation workers at JKIA staged a walkout in protest of the government’s decision to lease the airport to Adani, an Indian company.
During the demonstrations, airport workers called for the immediate cancellation of the deal, arguing that it threatened their jobs.
Later that evening, the Kenya Airport Workers Union (KAWU) announced plans for a larger demonstration starting on Wednesday, following unsuccessful talks with the government.
