Photo: Sdkb · Openverse · wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

The JKIA strike is over.

The JKIA strike is over. Read the agreement, not the headline — it sets its own expiry date, and it falls in three weeks.
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1️⃣ KAWU CALLS OFF THE STRIKE. THE DEAL HAS A THREE-WEEK FUSE.

The Kenya Aviation Workers Union signed a return-to-work agreement this morning with KCAA, the Kenya Airports Authority and Jambojet, after a meeting chaired by Transport CS Davis Chirchir. Members were sent back immediately; agency fees held by KAA go to the union at once (KBC, 1 September, 07:36 EAT).

Now the fine print. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission withdrew its 28 July guidance and issued fresh parameters on 1 September — and the union recorded reservations about those parameters inside the agreement itself. The 20 July strike-notice grievances go to arbitration under the PS for Aviation within three weeks — by roughly 22 September. The Jambojet recognition dispute is parked with a court.

🎯 So what: Called off is not recovered. KBC reports passengers at JKIA since Monday; aircraft and crew are out of position, so today's arrivals are harder to plan than yesterday's. Hold rooms through tonight. Then diarise 22 September — February's settlement held five months, July's held one, and this one names its own next flashpoint.
🏷 City, Bush, Beach | Kenya | Confirmed | impact:risk

2️⃣ THE FCDO DID NOT DOWNGRADE KENYA. IT ADDED AN AIRPORT NOTE.

"UK warns its citizens against travel to Kenya," ran the local headline yesterday (The Kenya Times, 31 August). We read the page. What the FCDO added on 31 August is one operational paragraph: industrial action is affecting airport operations, check with your airline. The advise-against-all-travel geography is unchanged and years old — Mandera; Tarbaj and Wajir East (except Wajir Town) and Wajir within 60km of Somalia; Garissa except Garissa Town, Lagdera and specified Balambala areas; Lamu except Lamu and Manda Islands. Ground: terrorism from Somalia-based groups (gov.uk, updated 31 August).

🎯 So what: Nairobi, Mombasa, Diani, Watamu, the Mara, Amboseli and Laikipia are not in that list and never have been. When an agent forwards you the headline, don't reassure — quote the counties back. Precision closes the booking.
🏷 City, Bush, Beach | Kenya | Confirmed | impact:demand

3️⃣ KENYA 6.6%, UGANDA 4.1% — AND KENYAN DIESEL FELL.

Kenya's annual inflation rose to 6.6% from 6.5%: food +9.0%, transport +15.7%, housing and utilities +3.6% (KNBS, 31 August). Uganda printed 4.1% from 4.0%, on food crops moving to 2.1% from 1.6% (UBOS, 31 August).

🎯 So what: Kenyan transport inflation ran at 15.7% in a month when average diesel fell 2.2% to KSh 219.04/litre (KNBS). The pump isn't driving it — fares and margin are. Next time a transfer operator hands you a fuel surcharge, the fuel number is on your side of the table.
🏷 City, Bush | Kenya, Uganda | Confirmed | impact:cost
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📡 RADAR
• KAWU arbitration deadline ~22 September — diarise it
• Kwita Izina, Kinigi — ceremony 4 Sept, exhibition to 8 Sept (RDB)
• Miss Tourism East Africa finals, Kampala — 5–12 Sept
• CBK weekly bulletin Friday; EPRA fuel review ~14 Sept

💬 Our ledger called settlement by 6 September. It landed on the 1st. The harder question is whether 22 September holds.

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— EA Hospitality Pulse | Daily intelligence for city, bush & beach properties