PS Defence Dr. Patrick Mariru Leads Kenyan Delegation to 3rd Kenya–Italy Joint Steering Committee on Space Cooperation in Rome

On 2 April 2026, the Principal Secretary for Defence, Hon Dr. Patrick Mariru, led a Kenyan delegation to the 3rd Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on the Kenya-Italy Bilateral Space Cooperation held at the Italian Space Agency HQs in Rome, Italy. The JSC Meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Mariru and Dr. Jahjah Munzer who represented the President of the Italian Space Agency.

The meeting was held to take stock of the progress made in the implementation of the Bilateral Agreement on the Luigi Broglio Malindi Space Centre. The implementing parties are the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The discussions focused on the progress made in the operationalization of the Centre for Earth Observation based in Malindi with a Node at the KSA HQs in Nairobi. Other key issues discussed were the plans to establish the International Centre for Space Education to be based in Malindi along with the Centre for Cubesat Development and a Space Museum; and educational scholarship opportunities for Kenyans in space-related fields.

The collaboration between the two countries, rooted in decades of strategic partnership, continues to open new opportunities for capacity‑building and scientific excellence. Both Kenyan and Italian delegations reaffirmed the shared commitment to transform Malindi Space Centre to be a hub for cutting‑edge Space Science and Technologies studies, research and innovation; enhance operational efficiency; advance research collaboration; support regional and global space initiatives; and to chart the next chapter of space exploration and innovation from Kenyan soil.

On the Kenyan side the meeting was attended by the Chairman of the KSA Board of Directors Maj Gen (Rtd) Amb Joff Otieno, the Ag. DG of KSA Brig Hillary Kipkosgey and other senior management officials including representative from the Kenyan Embassy in Rome; while the Italian Delegation had representation from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Italian Space Agency and Embassy of Italy to Kenya.

After the JSC meeting, the Kenyan delegation met with the Executives of STAM and Planetek, two Italian Space companies participating in the Consortium that recently won the bid announced by the European Space Agency and the European for establishment of the first-ever African Business Innovation Lab (ABIL) in partnership with the Kenya Space Agency in Nairobi. The meeting was to familiarize the Kenyan delegation with the service and solutions offering of the companies and their plans for implementing the ABIL Project in Kenya. The ABIL is expected to transform the Innovation landscape within Kenya's Space ecosystem.

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