Space Bucks Battle: Kenya and Italy Clash Over Malindi Station Funds
The Kenyan government asserts that Italy has failed to uphold its end of the agreement regarding the European nation’s Malindi-based space station.
On Tuesday, August 1, Defence Secretary Adan Duale informed the National Assembly’s Defence Committee that Italy has failed to pay annual rent and return the money collected from third parties at the Luigi Broglio Space Center, also known as San Marco.
The Cabinet Secretary explained that Italy has failed to compensate the Kenyan government for the land on which the facility is situated. Italian Space Agency (ASI) operates the Malindi Space Station, an offshore ground station.
According to an agreement seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the Italian government will pay Kenya Ksh35,505,000 (USD250,000) and an additional Ksh7,101,000 (USD50,000) for each third party that utilizes the facility.
In addition to paying annual fees and sharing profits, the ASI is required to share data with Kenya and conduct community development initiatives in the host community.
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“There is a dearth of transparency between Kenya Space Agency (KSA) operations and other Government of Kenya personnel at the Centre. The Agency has appointed a Deputy Chief Executive Officer, who has yet to settle in at the facility due to the agency’s reluctance to provide sufficient office space, according to documents submitted to Congress.
Technicians from Kenya who have worked at the facility over the years have been denied access to the facility.
Kenya contends that Italy has violated Article VII, Clause 6 of the Agreement, which stipulates the secondment of Kenyan professionals to the Facility.
According to the Kenyan Ministry of Defense, there is a reluctance to disclose information regarding the facility’s current commercial contracts with third parties, as required by the terms of the agreement.
Duale stated, “This has an impact on what is owed and declared to Kenya as shareable profits from commercial activities by Article VIII, Clause 5 (f).”
MPs were also informed that the Italian facility collaborated with other institutions in Kenya on space-related matters without the Kenya Space Agency’s participation as the local implementing partner and focal point.
Documents reveal that “some of the institutions lack credible or accredited engineering programs related to space sciences and technology, and the individuals have questionable credentials.”
Space Bucks Battle: Kenya and Italy Clash Over Malindi Station Funds
