On November 27, 2024, Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Honourable Soipan Tuya, officially opened the 5th Edition of the Space4Women Expert Meeting, the first-ever to be held in Africa, whose aim is to inspire and empower women and girls to take their place in the ever-growing space economy.
The meeting, organized by the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and co-hosted by the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) was held at the United Nations Office in Nairobi.
The three-day forum aims to promote gender inclusivity in space exploration and encourage women and girls to actively participate in the fields of space science, technology, innovation, and exploration.
In her remarks, CS Tuya expressed gratitude to UNOOSA for selecting Kenya as the host and highlighted the meeting’s potential to inspire women, especially from the Global South, to pursue careers in the space sector. She emphasized Kenya’s commitment to gender equity, as enshrined in the country’s Constitution, and its efforts to promote STEM education among women and girls to prepare them for opportunities in the space economy.
CS Tuya also commended the Kenya Space Agency for advancing the country’s space agenda, citing its achievements in leveraging space technology across sectors and successfully launching two satellites.
Brigadier Hillary Kipkosgey, the Director General of KSA, underscored the agency’s dedication to gender inclusivity, noting that women comprise 45% of its board of directors. He lauded the event as a critical platform to foster the participation of women and girls in space-related fields.
Director at UNOOSA, Ms. Aarti Holla-Maini, encouraged women to share their stories to inspire others and stressed the importance of collaboration between women and men in advancing science and technology. She also echoed the need for STEM education to be a priority in schools, highlighting its role in empowering women and improving the socio-economic status of nations.
The meeting gathered over 80 experts in the space sector, addressing not only gender inclusion but also the critical roles women can play in tackling challenges such as agriculture, food security, and the integration of space technologies to address global issues.
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