Kenya ‘hasn’t gained from space centre’

• The Energy and Education committees claimed the Italians had refused to share data collected at the centre and declined to share payments by third party users
• This is despite an agreement between the two governments that 70 per cent of fees collected from third-party users be handed over to the Kenyan authorities
• Under an agreement reached in 1995, the Italian Government was also required to train four PhD students, 12 engineers and 24 Kenyan technicians in space technology
• Only five have been trained so far, with two of them working at the centre

Kenya has not benefited from a satellite monitoring centre operated by the Italian Government in Malindi, according to two parliamentary committees.

The San Marco Space Application Centre in Ngomeni is strategically located on the Equator and of great significance in the field of space science.

But in their report tabled last Thursday, the Energy and Education committees claimed the Italians had refused to share data collected at the centre and declined to share payments by third party users.

This is despite an agreement between the two governments that 70 per cent of fees collected from third-party users be handed over to the Kenyan authorities.

Other agencies

“This is despite the use of the facilities by other space agencies such as the China Satellite Launch and Tracking Control,” the report says.

The government cannot tell how many countries have used the space centre as the Italians have also refused to honour the agreement requiring that the hosts approve its use by any other party, the parliamentary committees said.

Under an agreement reached in 1995, the Italian Government was also required to train four PhD students, 12 engineers and 24 Kenyan technicians in space technology.

Only five have been trained so far, with two of them working at the centre.

Security at the centre is provided by the Defence ministry, which also serves as the link between the two governments.