The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Kenya's main airport, faced widespread delays on Sunday, August 30, after airport workers went on a go-slow, disrupting departures and connections across the region.

"We wish to inform the public, the country and the users of our services rendered by our members that effective this morning our members went on strike," Moss Ndiema, Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) Secretary-General, said on Sunday.

Staff from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), and Jambojet, a subsidiary of Kenya Airways, who are taking part in the go slow, demanded improved salaries, among other grievances.

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed the strike, noting that some departing flights had been delayed at its airports and that it was working with aviation agencies, airlines and other stakeholders to manage the disruption and keep operations moving. 

The national carrier, Kenya Airways, which uses JKIA as its hub, issued a follow-up update blaming air traffic control challenges for delays into and out of the airport. 

By 2:00 p.m. local time, the airline said 30% of its scheduled flights for the day had departed, with average delays of two to three hours. 

Some departures were still running more than three hours late. 

KAA said further updates would follow as the situation developed. Kenya Airways also said it would keep passengers informed as new information became available.