Gov't apologises for JKIA disruption, vows urgent talks with all parties

In a statement issued Monday, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi said the government is engaging all parties involved, with talks ongoing to resolve the matter and restore normal operations "safely and in an orderly manner".

"We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to passengers whose journeys have been disrupted," the statement read. 

It urged affected travellers to remain patient and keep checking with their airlines for updates.

The disruption stems from industrial action by aviation workers that began on the night of Saturday, August 29, and escalated through the weekend into Monday. 

Workers affiliated with the Kenya Aviation Workers Union downed tools at multiple agencies, including the Kenya Airports Authority and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, affecting both domestic and international routes.

Kenya Airways has warned passengers to brace for delays exceeding six hours, a sharp jump from the two- to three-hour delays reported a day earlier. 

By Monday morning, long queues had built up at check-in, immigration and security points, with thousands of passengers reportedly spending the night on terminal seats and floors.

Some travellers have since been moved to hotels as airlines work to manage the backlog. 

As of Monday morning, there was no clear public timeline for when the disruption would be resolved. 

In its statement, the government described JKIA as 'a critical national gateway' central to trade, tourism, investment, diplomacy and regional connectivity and pledged to keep the public, the aviation industry and international partners updated as talks progress.