The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) has rejected an alleged Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) plan to replace permanent aviation workers with National Youth Service (NYS) graduates.
In a statement on Friday, July 24, 2026, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli warned that the move could undermine labour standards and threaten the job security of hundreds of aviation workers.
According to Atwoli, the union stands in full solidarity with the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), which has opposed what it describes as the replacement of credible employees with dubious labour arrangements.
Additionally, the COTU Secretary General claimed that KCAA intends to deploy NYS personnel to carry out security and screening functions across all airports while existing permanent positions remain vacant or are being replaced.
Atwoli clarified that it is not opposed to NYS graduates’ employment, noting that it supports efforts to integrate young people into the labour market.
However, the union insisted that any recruitment should be done through permanent and pensionable positions, in line with established public service recruitment procedures.
Furthermore, Atwoli argued that where there is a genuine need for additional personnel, KCAA should recruit NYS graduates into permanent positions instead of engaging them under temporary arrangements.
COTU further stated that workers carrying out permanent functions should be employed on permanent terms and conditions of service, describing the outsourcing of such roles as both immoral and illegal.
