Kenya Air Force staff deployed at JKIA, three other airports also affected by strike

Thousands of passengers stranded at JKIA as aviation workers down their tools.

Kenya Air Force personnel have been deployed at JKIA to help with the screening of passengers as the airport struggles to resume operations.

The Transport CS James Macharia, who termed the strike illegal at around 10am, assured passengers that operations at JKIA would resume in an hour.

“KAA in collaboration with KQ and with the support of the Kenya Air Force managed to get a replacement of the screeners. As we speak we have the capacity to screen passengers departing and I can assure you that within the hour we shall have the first aeroplane flying out,” he said.

Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret airports have also been affected by the aviation workers' strike.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded at the Eldoret International Airport on Wednesday after Kenya Aviation Authority Workers downed their tools.

Hundreds of passengers had arrived at the North Rift's busiest airport as early as 6am.

Samuel Kiprop said he was scheduled to fly to Mombasa at 7:50am by Fly 540 Airline but he was informed the flight had been cancelled.

"There was no communication from the Airport management, but the airline said we can only travel when KAA workers resume work," Kiprop said.

By 8:40 am, several passengers had lost hope of flying opting to travel by road to Nairobi.