Passengers Stranded at Kenya’s Main Airport Amid Protests Over Indian Company Takeover

Hundreds of passengers found themselves stranded at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Wednesday as airport workers launched a "go-slow" protest against the proposed takeover of the airport by the Adani Group, an Indian conglomerate. The protest caused widespread delays and flight cancellations, leaving travelers frustrated. Long queues formed outside the airport as employees deliberately slowed down their work to disrupt operations. The workers, led by the Kenya Aviation Workers' Union, are protesting the government's decision to lease JKIA to Adani for 30 years. Union leaders argue the deal lacks transparency and could lead to job losses.

Despite these concerns, the government has defended the lease, stating that JKIA is operating beyond capacity and requires private investment to expand and modernize its infrastructure. On Wednesday, protesters were seen blowing trumpets and chanting "Adani must go", as captured by Citizen TV. Some footage also showed police using batons on demonstrators. Among the stranded passengers was Wilma van Altena, who cut her vacation short to attend a funeral in the Netherlands. "It’s been chaotic... we stood outside the airport for ages, and there’s been no information from the airline," she told the BBC. The Zimbabwe men’s football team, fresh off a Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uganda, also found themselves stuck in Nairobi, with no word on their flight to Harare. BBC's Stewart Maclean, reporting from the airport, said that by early morning, passengers, including cabin crew and pilots, were calm but frustrated with the lack of communication and progress.

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) issued a statement around 7:00 am, confirming that "minimal operations" had resumed and apologizing for the inconvenience. "We are engaging relevant parties to normalize operations as soon as possible," the statement read. The protest stems from the government's failure to fully disclose the terms of the deal with the Adani Group, which prompted both the Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission to challenge the agreement in court. Critics argue that leasing a national strategic asset to a private foreign company is unreasonable. The court has since halted the deal to allow time for judicial review, though a final decision date has yet to be set. ⚡ Image Credit: GettyImages