It is premature for the Kenya Aviation Workers Union to go on strike. Thy are threatening a go-slow and strike action starting this week because they are opposed to the Adani Group investing in and managing Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Certainly the Adani Group wants to invest $2 billion (Sh260 billion) in JKIA, including for a new terminal and runway. Yes, the Adani Group clashed with Hindenburg private equity group, which was short-selling Adani shares while alleging that it was involved in fishy deals. Yes, Adani wants to manage JKIA for 30 years. All these questions must be answered
However nothing is signed yet and the Adani proposal at this stage is merely a statement of interest that will have to be discussed and approved by government.
The union is also mistaken to fear job losses. JKIA was designed to handle 7.5 million visitors per year but is now handling 8.6 million. The Kenya Airports Authority wants to expand the airport, not to shrink it.
But it is only a proposal. It is good that the union has raised its concerns but it is not yet necessary to go on strike and inconvenience thousands of passengers.
Quote of the day: "Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are."
Bertolt Brecht
The German poet and playwright died on August 14, 1956
