Crisis looms as Kenya Airways pilots set to start strike on Saturday

Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) now says that it will withdraw its staff from all Kenya Airways (KQ) planes this weekend over poor working conditions.

In a press release sent to newsrooms, KALPA Secretary General Murithi Nyaga cited poor working conditions and KQ's management's unwillingness to engage in negotiations as the reason for industrial action.

"Beginning Saturday 5th November 2022 from 6:00 AM there shall be no Kenya Airways aircraft departing JKIA flown by a KALPA member," KAPLA's statement reads in part.

The association had on October 19 this year issued a 14-day industrial notice to KQ management as the last resort in "our attempts to seek better working conditions for our members and ensure that Kenya Airways is managed professionally."

"We hoped the management would soften its hard stance and engage in a negotiation on the issues raised. However, as we mentioned  Kenya Airways has not made any meaningful attempt to engage and have these matters resolved.

"The strike notice has since expired and we are therefore at liberty to exercise our right to withdraw our labour forthwith as enshrined in Article 41, Chapter 4 of the Kenyan Constitution," ," the statement adds.

KQ had earlier in the week warned that the industrial action will cost it KSh300 million shillings ($2.47 million) a day, and jeopardise its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.