From satellites orbiting hundreds of kilometres above the earth to the archaeological record of humanity’s earliest innovation in the Lake Turkana Basin, the Ministry of Defence showcased the breadth of Kenya’s science and technology agenda during the Global Data Festival and Kenya Space Expo and Conference 2026 in Nairobi.
The four-day forum brought together government institutions, development partners, academia, private sector actors, innovators and data practitioners to examine the future of data, artificial intelligence, space-enabled development and responsible innovation.
At the exhibition, the Ministry’s presence was reflected through Kenya Space Agency (KSA) and the Kenya Home of Human Origins Project, which showcased two dimensions of Kenya’s science and innovation agenda: the use of space technology and earth observation in planning, resilience and security, and the country’s human origins heritage from the Lake Turkana Basin as a platform for research, tourism, investment and science education.
Speaking during the closing session, the Director General of the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Dr Macdonald Obudho, said the forum had reaffirmed the strategic place of data as a national asset. He noted that national statistical systems must continue evolving into trusted stewards of integrated data ecosystems, bringing together official statistics, administrative data, earth observation, geospatial information and citizen-generated data.
Representing the Kenya Space Agency Board, Dr Philip Osano said the conference had demonstrated the growing role of space science and technology in informing policy and supporting development priorities. He emphasized the need to invest in shared infrastructure, young innovators and start-ups working with data and space-based applications.
The conference closed with a call for institutions to move from discussion to implementation by strengthening data systems, expanding practical applications of science and technology and deepening collaboration. For the Ministry of Defence, the forum reinforced the value of science, space, heritage and innovation as tools for planning, resilience, development and national security.
Add Comment