Kenya’s Striking Workforce: Unraveling the Crisis Behind the Protests and Strikes.
Since President William Ruto took office two years ago, his administration has faced a barrage of labor strikes across various sectors, making labor unrest a defining feature of the Kenya Kwanza (KK) government. From doctors and teachers to civil servants and university lecturers, the country has been rocked by numerous strikes. Adding to the unrest, two waves of street protests have also marked the president’s tenure — the Azimio-led demonstrations of 2023, which called out the government’s inaction on the rising cost of living, and the Gen-Z-led protests in 2024 over poor governance and a punitive Finance Bill.
For the KK administration, the challenges seem unrelenting. As one crisis is resolved, another emerges. The question is: Are there any lessons learned?
Aviation Industry in Turmoil
The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Kenya’s major gateway to East Africa, is in danger of losing its regional prominence due to mismanagement. While other East African countries have been making strategic moves to upgrade their airports, Kenya’s aviation sector faces decline. The stalled construction of a second runway at JKIA in 2015 is a prime example, costing taxpayers Ksh. 4.5 billion with no tangible results.
On September 11, 2024, members of the Kenya Airports Workers Union (KAWU) went on strike to protest the proposed takeover of JKIA by India’s Adani Group. The deal, which involves a 30-year lease in exchange for a $1.85 billion investment, has been shrouded in secrecy, raising concerns among workers about job security. The strike paralyzed airport operations, highlighting how vulnerable Kenya’s aviation industry has become.
Though the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport and Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) leader Francis Atwoli managed to calm the situation, the controversy over the Adani deal lingers. Critics argue that the deal could deny Kenya substantial revenue from a key public asset.
Education Sector on Edge
Labor unrest in Kenya’s education sector has been another sore point for the government. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) narrowly averted a strike after reaching an agreement with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), while the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) proceeded with a brief strike. Their dispute centers around the government’s failure to implement a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that promised better pay and working conditions.
At the same time, public university lecturers, represented by the Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU), took to the streets on September 4, 2024, demanding the enforcement of the 2017-2021 CBA. The strike, triggered by salary discrepancies at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), has left students in limbo and academic operations in disarray.
The lecturers’ grievances include delayed salary payments, unremitted statutory deductions, and non-compliance with agreed salary increments. As the academic year progresses, the lecturers remain resolute, refusing to return to work until their demands are met.
Healthcare in Crisis
In July 2024, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) called off a 99-day strike after signing a return-to-work agreement with the Council of Governors. This followed a grueling 56-day strike by doctors demanding the implementation of a CBA signed with the Jubilee administration in 2017.
The doctors’ strike, which began in March 2024, had devastating consequences for Kenya’s public healthcare system. While the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) eventually reached a compromise with the government, many of their demands, including the posting of medical interns, remain unmet. With only 2.3 doctors for every 10,000 citizens, the healthcare sector is far from recovering, and the risk of future strikes looms large.
More Strikes on the Horizon
The wave of labor unrest shows no signs of abating. On September 4, 2024, the Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU) issued a 21-day strike notice over delayed salary increases. Similarly, UASU is preparing for a second round of strikes starting September 18, 2024, after talks over their CBA stalled yet again. Nurses in Trans Nzoia County have also announced plans to strike later this month, citing unmet promises from the county government.
Even the private sector has not been spared. Doctors at Nairobi Hospital are threatening to strike, citing governance issues and demanding the resignation of the hospital’s board. This strike, if realized, could further strain Kenya’s already overburdened healthcare system.
Conclusion: A Workforce in Crisis
Kenya’s ongoing labor strikes reveal a deeper crisis within the country’s workforce. From mismanagement in the aviation sector to unresolved CBAs in education and healthcare, the KK administration faces mounting pressure to resolve these issues. At the heart of this unrest lies the government’s failure to deliver on promises made to its most valuable resource — its people. Until these grievances are addressed, strikes and protests will continue to disrupt Kenya’s social and economic fabric.
Article By Suzy Nyongesa.
