Kenya has always recognised the potential of space data and technology as a catalyst for national development. Building on early activity in the 1960s, the formal establishment of the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) in 2017 marked a major step in coordinating national efforts.
Since then, growing momentum has been given to the integration of space technologies into priority development areas and advancing the country’s involvement in the international space economy.
The Challenge
While Kenya’s space sector has made commendable strides, especially the establishment of KSA and a growing interest in space-derived applications. However, the country’s innovation ecosystem remains is still developing and, facing several challenges:
- Limited awareness and application of space data across the public and private sectors
- Gaps in infrastructure and technical expertise
- Fragmented coordination among academia, startups, and government institutions
- Difficulties accessing finance due to the perceived risk of space ventures
- Low investor familiarity with the sector
- Underrepresentation of women, youth, and marginalised groups in the space economy
Rather than viewing these challenges as barriers, the roadmap recognises them as opportunities for strategic intervention and outlines coordinated actions to strengthen local capabilities, foster inclusion, and unlock Kenya’s potential as a regional leader in space innovation.
The Ask
KSA, with support from the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund and implementation by Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability (RIIS), initiated this roadmap project with the aim of unlocking the country’s space innovation potential.
KSA sought to:
- Develop a coordinated, evidence-based roadmap that aligns space innovation efforts with national development priorities;
- Understand the maturity and gaps across key dimensions of the ecosystem, including human capital, access to finance, infrastructure, and inclusion;
- Identify strategic interventions that would catalyse local entrepreneurship, investment, and cross-sector collaboration;
- Position Kenya’s space ecosystem to compete globally while addressing national socioeconomic needs through space-enabled solutions.
This roadmap represents a shift from siloed growth to coordinated action—designed not just for KSA, but for the entire Kenyan space innovation ecosystem to co-own and implement collaboratively.
The Methodology
To address these challenges, KSA in collaboration with RIIS and supported by the UK International Development’s RISA Fund, developed the Kenya Space Innovation Ecosystem Roadmap.
Anchored on a clear Theory of Change, the roadmap aims to establish an inclusive, data-driven, and commercially viable space ecosystem that aligns with the Kenya Space Policy and national development goals.
KSA’s role was key as the custodian and convenor of innovation in the sector, collaborating with academia, private sector, civil society, and international partners.
The roadmap was developed using a human-centred design approach guided by the IDIA (International Development Innovation Alliance) innovation goals. The process followed four key stages:
- Ecosystem Maturity Assessment (EMA) – This diagnostic evaluated the current state of Kenya’s space ecosystem, benchmarked it globally, and identified maturity levels across 9 strategic areas such as human capital, access to finance, and networking assets.
- Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement – More than 100 ecosystem actors were identified and engaged across co-creation workshops, surveys, and one-on-one engagements. This ensured marginalised voices (women, youth, disabled groups) were included in shaping the strategy.
- Intervention Design – Using inputs from the EMA and stakeholder feedback, the team developed a portfolio of interventions mapped against short-, medium-, and long-term horizons. These included:
- A Space Tech Fund
- Entrepreneur Support Programmes
- Capacity-building and scholarships
- Strategic partnerships with global space agencies
- PR and Comms campaigns to build public awareness
- Roadmap Implementation Strategy – Interventions were prioritised, sequenced, and assigned to potential partners with KSA acting as the ecosystem custodian, ensuring coordination without centralising control
Findings
While full implementation of the roadmap is still underway, several key outcomes and initiatives have already begun to take shape, signalling Kenya’s momentum in building a coordinated, future-facing space ecosystem:
- Strategic Positioning: Kenya is increasingly recognised as a regional hub for space innovation. Hosting the first-ever National Space Sector Summit in 2023 marked a turning point in elevating national dialogue and aligning stakeholder action.
- Knowledge and Community Building: Kenya has launched Kenya Space Week, an annual event bringing together industry, government, academia, and innovators to showcase progress, explore opportunities, and strengthen networks across the ecosystem.
- Public Engagement and Visibility: A dedicated Kenya Space Agency newsletter has been introduced to improve transparency, share updates, and raise awareness of space sector activities (supporting the roadmap’s communications and outreach objectives).
- Ecosystem Coordination: The roadmap has created a common strategic framework that now guides collaboration across ministries, research institutions, the private sector, and development partners.
- Programme Mobilisation: Early-stage implementation of roadmap priorities includes the establishment of:
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- The Kenya Space Data Centre
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- A proposed Space Tech Fund
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- A portfolio of skills and entrepreneurship support programmes
- Benchmarking Progress: Kenya has moved from a “forming” to an “establishing” ecosystem in the Ecosystem Maturity Assessment (EMA), particularly in areas such as innovation culture and networking assets.
- Inclusive Innovation: Equity has been embedded as a design principle, with interventions aimed at supporting participation from women, youth, and historically underrepresented groups in the space sector.
Next Steps
To unlock the Kenya Space Innovation Ecosystem Roadmap, interventions have been prioritised across immediate (0–6 months), short- (6–18 months), medium- (18–36 months), and long-term (36+ months) horizons.
Early-stage actions are foundational and should be fast-tracked to create enabling conditions for future implementation.
Conclusion
The Kenya Space Agency’s roadmap is a great example of how to embed systems innovation into a national strategy. With a clear diagnosis of ecosystem needs, deep stakeholder engagement, and phased execution, KSA has shifted from technical agency to a catalyst for inclusive space-enabled development. It offers a replicable model for other African nations seeking to harness space science for socio-economic transformation.
