Kenya and Italy reaffirm commitment to deepening bilateral space cooperation

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Kenya and Italy have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral space cooperation following the 3rd Joint Steering Committee meeting held at the headquarters of the Italian Space Agency in Rome.

The Kenyan delegation was led by Principal Secretary for Defence, Patrick Mariru, while the meeting was co-chaired alongside Jahjah Munzer, representing the President of the Italian Space Agency.

Discussions focused on reviewing progress in implementing the bilateral agreement on the Luigi Broglio Malindi Space Centre, with the Kenya Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency serving as the main implementing bodies. Key updates were provided on the operationalization of the Centre for Earth Observation in Malindi, supported by a node at the agency’s headquarters in Nairobi.

The meeting also explored plans to establish an International Centre for Space Education in Malindi, alongside a Centre for CubeSat Development and a Space Museum. Opportunities for educational scholarships in space-related fields for Kenyan students were also discussed.

Both delegations emphasized their shared vision of transforming the Malindi Space Centre into a hub for advanced space science, research and innovation, while enhancing operational efficiency and supporting regional and global space initiatives.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Kenyan delegation engaged with executives from Italian space companies STAM and Planetek, which are part of a consortium selected under a European Space Agency initiative to establish the African Business Innovation Lab in partnership with the Kenya Space Agency in Nairobi.

The planned innovation lab is expected to strengthen Kenya’s space ecosystem by supporting research, entrepreneurship and technology development within the sector.