Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was thrown into chaos early Wednesday,  as airport staff went on strike in response to a controversial takeover deal with an Indian company.

The strike began at midnight, causing a complete standstill at the airport. Images shared on social media showed passengers struggling to retrieve their luggage amidst the disruption.

The strike stems from plans to lease JKIA to India’s Adani Group for 30 years, in exchange for a $1.85 billion investment. This deal has sparked significant backlash, with critics arguing that it will result in job losses for local workers and deprive taxpayers of future profits from the airport. JKIA's freight and passenger fees contribute more than five percent to Kenya's GDP.

The Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission have secured a court delay, citing concerns over the deal’s lack of transparency.

This comes after the  Kenyan High Court has temporarily halted a $1.85 billion agreement between the Kenyan government and India's Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. The deal, which would have given Adani control over Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for 30 years, has been paused until further court decisions.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission and the Law Society of Kenya filed a legal challenge against the government, claiming that the leasing of JKIA to a private entity is unconstitutional. They argued that the move violates key principles of governance, accountability, and responsible use of public funds.

Despite the protests, the Kenyan government defends the agreement as essential for modernizing JKIA, one of Africa’s busiest airports. The upgrade is expected to include a second runway and improvements to the passenger terminal, addressing issues such as power outages and leaking roofs, according to the Kenya Airport Authority.

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