Kenya launches regional centre for earth observation training in Malindi
Date: 2025-10-30
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Regional Centre for Earth Observation (CREO) training has officially begun at
the Luigi Broglio Malindi Space Centre (LBMSC) in Ngomeni, Kilifi County.
Organized
by the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) in partnership with the Agenzia Spaziale
Italiana (ASI), the programme was inaugurated by Dr. Eng. Jajah Munzer, CEO of
LBMSC, and Col. Robert Oktoi, Deputy CEO of LBMSC.
The training, which runs from 29 October to 5 December 2025, is designed to equip KSA engineers and operators with the technical expertise required to operate, maintain, and support all ground components of the CREO system throughout its lifespan. It also aims to build a self-sustaining scientific and operational community in Earth observation, fostering innovation and enhancing Kenya’s technological independence.
The
CREO system provides a high-performance image acquisition and download platform
that covers the Kenyan territory, supported by infrastructure and services that
enable access to Earth observation data via the Ease Ground Platform.
A
total of 24 KSA participants are undergoing a 26-day intensive programme
divided into three phases: Primary Training, focusing on system architecture
and design documentation; Advanced Training, which includes system operations
and Site Operational Validation (SOV); and On-the-Job Training, offering
applied mentorship under expert supervision.
This
initiative represents a major milestone in strengthening KSA’s capacity to
manage the newly established Regional Earth Observation Centre, which operates
nodes in both Malindi and Nairobi. It forms part of the Kenya–Italy Bilateral
Agreement on the management of the LBMSC, aimed at advancing cooperation in
scientific research and access to Earth observation data.
Through
its continued collaboration with ASI, KSA is deepening Kenya–Italy space
cooperation, building human and technical capacity, and enhancing access to
space-derived data to advance the country’s growing space ecosystem.
