Kenya: Flights disrupted by airport workers strike

Hundreds of air passengers were stranded Wednesday in Kenya because of a strike at Nairobi's international airport by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union. Police violently dispersed striking workers who attempted to protest at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The labor court suspended the strike until a petition by a local airline opposing the strike is heard Thursday. James Kariuki, the transport minister, said the strike was illegal because the government got court orders Tuesday barring the union from proceeding with it. Kenya's military took over screening and security services at the airport following the strike. The union said in a statement that the strike was over the proposed takeover of the Kenya Airport Authority, that runs airports, by the country's loss-making airline, Kenya Airways. It demanded the removal of the top management of Kenya Airways and the Kenya Airport Authority. Kenya Airports Authority said flight operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport are steadily normalizing. Kenya Airways Managing Director Sebastian Mikosz said 24 flights had been delayed and two flights had been diverted elsewhere because of the strike.<br/>