In a statement issued earlier today, KALPA threatened to begin its strike due to its unresolved issues. The statement notes that no flights operated by any of its staff would leave the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from dawn.

“We hoped that the airline's management would soften its hard stance and negotiate on the issues raised. However, and as we mentioned at our press conference on November 1, 2022, Kenya Airways Management has not made any meaningful attempt to engage and have these matters resolved,” stated CEO Captain Nyagah.

“Sadly, Kenya Airways Management’s action has left us with no other option. The strike notice has since expired and we are therefore at liberty to exercise our right to withdraw our labor forthwith, as enshrined in Article 41, chapter 4 of the Kenyan Constitution.”

The KALPA chair noted that the stalemate with the Kenya Airways management was yet to be resolved; therefore, the strike was inevitable.

“KALPA the representative voice of all pilots in the country, Kenya Airways included, wishes to inform members of the public that beginning Saturday,5th November 2022, from 6:00 am local time, there shall be no Kenya Airways aircraft departing Joko Kenyatta International Aiport (JKIA)flown by a KALPA member,” Captain Muriithi Nyagah.

On the other hand, Kenya Airways management accused the pilots of being adamant on the negotiating table making it hard to come to a consensus.

“As Kenya Airways we were on the negotiating table with the pilots and they refused to bend on their demands making it hard to resolve,” stated Kilavuka on November 1.

The pilots demanded the reinstatement of the Provident Fund which the airline maintained it can’t afford. Other grievances by the KQ include harassment of union officials, poor leadership and management, and violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreements.

Despite the KQ obtaining a court order halting the strike by pilots, the pilots insist they have not been served with any court order and therefore the strike is still on.

“We are not aware of any court injunction by KQ as we have not received any documents from them,” captain Nyagah.