VCDF OPENS HIGH ALTITUDE OPERATIONS WORKSHOP

The Vice Chief of the Defence Forces (VCDF), Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) John Omenda, speaking on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Hon Soipan Tuya, officially opened the High Altitude Operations (HAO) Workshop on 2 September 2025 at a Nairobi hotel.

The workshop, themed “Unlocking the Stratosphere: Advancing High Altitude Operations in Kenya,” seeks to establish a cohesive national framework for HAO that enhances operational efficiency, safety, and security through improved procedures and regulatory clarity. It also aims to raise awareness, foster stakeholder collaboration, and promote the adoption of High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) for socio-economic, civil, and defence applications in Kenya.

In his remarks, Lt Gen Omenda thanked the organisers—AALTO HAPS Ltd and the Kenya Space Agency (KSA)—for bringing together stakeholders committed to exploring the potential of this emerging technology. He noted that AALTO HAPS Ltd’s decision to select Kenya as the first launch site for HAPS reflects confidence in the country’s stable business environment, supportive regulations, and strong infrastructure.

“High Altitude Operations involve the use of unmanned aircraft that fly in the stratosphere. Today’s theme is timely and relevant as we explore how this technology can support both development and security needs,” he said.

He concluded by urging all participants to engage constructively, share ideas, and recommend solutions to guide the development of a harmonised regulatory system for HAO in Kenya.

High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) are an emerging technology with a growing interest base in Kenya. In particular, Zephyr stratospheric operations present significant opportunities for enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, border security management, airborne communications connectivity, disaster response, environmental monitoring, weather instrumentation, and natural resources management.

The two-day conference, which began today, seeks to assess the current status, successes, and challenges of HAO in Kenya, develop and harmonise national guidelines to regulate and oversee HAO and foster stakeholder engagement and collaboration to shape the future of HAO in the country.