Regional Centre for Earth Observation Training Officially Kicks Off in Malindi

The Regional Centre for Earth Observation (CREO) training has officially commenced at the Luigi Broglio Malindi Space Centre (LBMSC) in Ngomeni -Malindi, Kilifi County.

Organized by the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) in partnership with the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), the opening ceremony was presided over by Dr. Eng. Jajah Munzer, CEO of LBMSC, and Col Robert Oktoi, Deputy CEO, LBMSC.

The hands-on training, which runs from 29 October to 5 December 2025, aims to equip KSA engineers and operators with the technical expertise to operate, maintain, and support all ground components of the CREO system throughout its operational lifespan. In addition, the training seeks to cultivate an autonomous scientific and operational community in the field of Earth observation, thereby enhancing local capacity, fostering innovation, and advancing Kenya’s technological self-reliance.

The CREO system provides a high-performance image acquisition and download system covering the territory of Kenya. It integrates a foundational infrastructure and related services that facilitate access to Earth observation data through the Ease Ground Platform.

A total of 24 KSA participants are undertaking an intensive 26-day training programme comprising theoretical sessions, practical exercises, and on-the-job mentorship, structured in three phases:
(1) Primary Training: Overview of CREO system architecture, design documentation, and data sources.
(2) Advanced Training: Practical system operations and Site Operational Validation (SOV).
(3) On-the-Job Training: Applied mentorship under expert supervision.

The training marks a major milestone in strengthening KSA’s capacity to operate and manage the newly established Regional Earth Observation Centre - with fully installed and operational nodes in Malindi and Nairobi. It is part of the Kenya-Italy Bilateral Agreement on the management of LBMSC, focusing on the establishment of the Centre and access to scientific and Earth observation data.

Through its long-standing collaboration with ASI, KSA continues to strengthen Kenya–Italy cooperation in space activities, building human and technical capacity, enhancing access to space-derived data, and advancing both upstream and downstream capabilities within Kenya’s space ecosystem.
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