Kenya has officially kicked off plans to develop a commercial spaceport, with the National Treasury issuing Terms of Reference for the procurement of transaction advisory services for the ambitious project.
Led by the Kenya Space Agency (KSA), the initiative aims to establish a satellite launch facility near Kipini, located along Kenya’s coastline between Malindi and Lamu.
As stated in the document made public on December 16, 2025, the government is looking to recruit a skilled transaction advisor who is capable of analyzing the technical, financial, legal, environmental, and social feasibility of the construction of the spaceport based on a PPP model.
The strategy utilizes Kenya’s location on the equator, which provides some benefits in satellite launches, among them lower fuel consumption, lower launch costs, and easier satellite placement in low-inclined orbits around the earth’s equatorial region.
A spaceport is a facility on Earth, or potentially another planet, where spacecraft can land or receive support. Currently, Africa has no active spaceports, even though Algeria and Kenya’s San Marco Equatorial Range near Malindi conducted satellite and sounding rocket launches between 1964 and 1988. This gap forces African satellite manufacturers to transport their satellites abroad for launch, incurring high logistical and operational costs – a challenge the Kenyan spaceport aims to address.
Under the plan, the transaction advisor will prepare a detailed feasibility study in line with the PPP Act, 2021. The study will include concept designs, launch vehicle options, infrastructure requirements, lifecycle cost estimates, and a phased implementation plan for the facility.
The advisor will also evaluate market demand, engage potential investors and launch operators, and recommend the most viable PPP structure for the project.
The proposed spaceport would require coordination with several government departments such as the Ministry of Defense, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Kenya Maritime Authority, National Intelligence Service, and National Environment Management Authority.
KSA envisions the Malindi commercial spaceport as a hub for satellite launches and other space-related commercial activities. The spaceport is expected to lure various international partnerships and investments concerning the deployment of satellites, earth observation, telecommunication, climate observation, and space scientific research.
The procurement process for the transaction advisor is set to close on February 13, 2026, marking a major milestone toward Kenya’s goal of establishing a national satellite launch capability and positioning the country as a key player in Africa’s emerging space industry.
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