Kenya Space Agency hosts Science and Research PS on familiarisation visit
Date: 2026-01-27
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Science, Research and
Innovation, Prof. Abdulrazak Shaukat, has paid a familiarisation visit to the
Kenya Space Agency (KSA) as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration in
scientific research and innovation for socio-economic development.
The
visit, which took place on January 27, 2026, saw Prof. Shaukat, accompanied by
the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA),
Dr. Tonny K. Omwansa, tour the KSA headquarters in Nairobi. He was received by
the Director General of the Kenya Space Agency, Brig. Hillary Kipkosgey, KSA
Board Director Dr. Stephen Situma, and members of the Agency’s senior
management team.
The
engagement provided an opportunity for the delegation to familiarise themselves
with the Agency’s operations, review progress made in the implementation of
Kenya’s national space programme, and explore avenues for strengthening
institutional support toward building a robust and vibrant space industry.
During
the visit, Brig. Kipkosgey outlined KSA’s mandate and ongoing initiatives,
after which the Principal Secretary and his delegation undertook a guided tour
of key technical departments, gaining firsthand insight into the Agency’s
capabilities and activities.
In
his remarks, Prof. Shaukat stressed the importance of leveraging space science
and technology to advance national priorities, including agriculture, food
security, climate action and disaster management. He highlighted the need for
improved collaboration and data aggregation across sectoral silos to enhance
efficiency, and urged KSA to fully exercise its coordination mandate by working
closely with academia, the private sector and government institutions to
promote effective knowledge and data sharing.
The
Principal Secretary reaffirmed the State Department’s support for the Kenya
Space Agency and invited the Agency to participate in the inaugural Science,
Research and Innovation Week, scheduled for May 18 to 22, 2026.
The
visit underscored the growing alignment between the State Department for
Science, Research and Innovation and the Kenya Space Agency, and reaffirmed the
role of space science and technology as a critical enabler of informed
decision-making across key sectors of Kenya’s economy.
