Cabinet greenlights creation of space exploration agency
An artist's rendering of NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)-2. Kenya is one of five countries including South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria and Ghana which have agreed to form space agencies in their respective countries. PHOTO | AFP / NASA/ JP / CALTECH
What you need to know:
The agency will be used to give proper prediction for weather and help in giving farmers critical tips on improving the agriculture sector.
Apart from being used for research, it is expected that the Sanmarco monitoring station in Malindi will generate revenue as it will be leased to other countries wishing to use it for space exploration.
The Cabinet has finally approved the formation of the Kenya National Space Agency, a development that will see the country venture into space science.
A strategy policy paper which now paves way for its establishment was passed by the cabinet last month, the Director General of the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) Dr Moses Rugutt revealed Wednesday.
"This is a great step in the right direction as it will help the country in critical sectors such as agriculture, mining and forestry among others," said Dr Rugutt.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 10th Egerton University International Conference and Research week at the institution's Njoro campus, Dr Rugutt said that the agency comes at a time when the country has discovered oil and other minerals.
At the same time, he said the agency will be used to give proper prediction for weather and help in giving farmers critical tips on improving the agriculture sector.
The three-day conference, whose theme is 'Research and Innovation for the Advancement of Humanity’, has attracted scientists from eight African countries.
States in attendance included Rwanda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, South Sudan, Central African Republic and South Africa.
Dr Rugutt said that Kenya is one of five countries including South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria and Ghana which have formed the Africa Leadership Management Constellation which have agreed to form space agencies in their respective countries.
The NACOSTI boss said that once the Kenya National Space Agency board is set up it is expected to take over the management of the San Marco (Broglio) monitoring station at Malindi.
"This station at Malindi is currently managed by the Italian government on lease basis but once we set up the Space agency board the government will take it over,” said Dr Rugutt.
He said apart from being used for research, it is expected that the facility will generate revenue as it will be leased to other countries wishing to use it for space exploration.
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