NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya has officially kicked off plans to develop its first-ever commercial spaceport after the National Treasury issued Terms of Reference for the procurement of transaction advisory services for the ambitious project.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Kenya Space Agency (KSA), aims to pave the way for a satellite launch facility to be established in the general Kipini area, between Malindi and Lamu along the Kenyan coastline.
According to documents issued on December 16, 2025, the government is seeking an experienced transaction advisor to evaluate the technical, financial, legal, environmental and social feasibility of the project, which is being structured under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) framework.
The move is anchored on Kenya’s strategic position along the equator, a location that offers major advantages for space launches. These include reduced fuel consumption, lower launch costs and the ability to place satellites efficiently into equatorial and low-inclination orbits.
A spaceport is a specialised facility where spacecraft are launched, landed or supported. Despite Africa’s growing interest in space technology, the continent currently has no active commercial spaceport. Kenya itself previously hosted the San Marco Equatorial Range near Malindi, which supported satellite and sounding rocket launches between 1964 and 1988.
Today, satellites manufactured or owned by African states must be transported abroad for launch, significantly increasing operational and logistical costs. The proposed Kenyan spaceport seeks to bridge this gap and position the country as a regional hub for space activities.
Under the plan, the transaction advisor will prepare a comprehensive feasibility study in line with the PPP Act, 2021. This will include concept designs, launch vehicle options, infrastructure requirements, lifecycle cost estimates and a phased implementation roadmap.
The advisor will also assess market demand, conduct market sounding with potential investors and launch operators, and recommend the most viable PPP structure for the project.
The development will require coordination with multiple state agencies, including the Ministry of Defence, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Kenya Maritime Authority, National Intelligence Service and the National Environmental Management Authority.
Once operational, the Malindi commercial spaceport is expected to support satellite launches and other space-related commercial activities, attracting international partners and private investors interested in telecommunications, earth observation, climate monitoring and scientific research.
The procurement process for the transaction advisory services is scheduled to close on February 13, 2026, marking a major milestone in Kenya’s push to establish a national satellite launch capability and enter the global space economy.
