The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) is charged with the responsibility of nurturing the growth of Kenya’s space sector, and creating awareness of opportunities that come with exploitation and exploration of space. Part of its key aspirations is enhanced utilization of space services across Kenya’s public sector and development of national space capability. Towards this end, the Agency convened a breakfast meeting with editors of various media houses to update them on the activities of the Agency and share information on the impending launch of Kenya’s earth observation satellite, Taifa-1 Sat, scheduled for launch in April 2023.
The purpose of the media briefing was threefold:
- To seek media support in dissemination of information that is in the public interest about the impending launch of Kenya’s first operational satellite, the Taifa-1 Satellite;
- To share information with the public on the expected benefits of Taifa-1 Satellite and why Kenya should as a nation be concerned with exploration and exploitation of space; and
- To create more awareness about the Kenya Space Agency and its activities.
In his remarks, the KSA Ag. DG Brig. Hillary Kipkosgey said that Space offers the best long term perspective, knowledge and understanding of what is happening here on earth and in our immediate environment. He termed the launch of Taifa-1 as a moment of national pride, adding that Taifa-1 will play a critical role in decision support in a number of socioeconomic activities, including environmental monitoring, natural resources management and agriculture. It will also facilitate capacity building in space systems engineering, space operations, data processing and analytics, ground station services and operations, among others.
Present during the meeting were Mr. Samuel Maina, Managing Director, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, KSA Senior management, senior reporters from main stream media as well as other media houses from both Kenya and international media.
