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{
    "id": 462220,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/462220/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 36,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The second question is on the scientific and economic potential of the centre and how the Government of Kenya has benefited since its inception in 1964 in terms of data acquisition, staff development and direct financial benefits. Personnel drawn from Government of Kenya institutions have been trained in space science and technology. To-date, five Kenyans have been trained at doctorate level, three at masters level and 25 at technician level. The training of these personnel and the funding for the same, have been undertaken by the Government of Italy. The centre conducts training and runs internship programmes for university students in space science technology. Under the current agreement, Kshs240 million has been spent on Ngomeni community development projects. One hundred and eighty-five Kenyans are employed directly by the centre, while goods and services are acquired from Malindi and Kilifi counties. In 1995 Agreement, the annual rent payable to the Government of Kenya was US$50,000 but this has since been increased to US$100,000. The thriving relationships between Kenya and Italy, arising from the bilateral cooperation of the two countries, have seen the Government of Italy convert to grants, debts owed by the Government of Kenya. This was done under the “Debts for Development Swap” amounting to Kshs4.2 billion. On the number of technical and support staff of Kenyan nationality employed at the centre and the terms and conditions of their service, the Ministry of Defence currently has an officer and two technical staff deployed at the centre. The Italian Space Agency runs the centre through contracts with space services companies directly under their management. Currently, there are 185 Kenyans who are employed at the centre for purposes of administration, operations and logistics support. They are serving under a three-year contract, with their terms and conditions of service negotiated through a collective bargaining agreement. The Italian nationals engaged at the base are seconded by their respective companies, contracted by the Italian Space Agency, and undertake administrative, operations and logistics functions. The fourth question is on why the Government of Italy has not honoured some of the Articles of the 1995 Agreement between the two governments. Furthermore, why the Government has not taken any action on the same. The joint standing committee responsible for facilitation and implementation of the agreement, which is composed of representatives from both governments, discussed the pending obligations of the Government of Italy and agreed that they would be factored in the proposed agreement, which is due for signing. The fifth question was, given that the activities of San Marco Space Application Centre are mainly scientific in nature and focus on space research, remote sensing, launching and monitoring of resources and telecommunications satellites, why the centre’s activities are coordinated by the Ministry of Defence and not the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The establishment of the San Marco Project base (then the San Marco Equatorial Range) in 1964 was to conduct equatorial launches and offer telemetry, tracking and control support for spacecrafts and launchers. Rockets used to launch satellites and suborbital platforms are essentially missile technology. Launch bases around the world are effectively controlled by military due to the inherent risks involved in handling The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}