- Nairobi-born Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba has been named on the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list, a major milestone for African representation in the global space industry
- Wanjiku founded Vicillion, a private aerospace venture focused on space infrastructure and interplanetary logistics, with no starting capital, while still a graduate student
- She holds astronaut-candidate credentials from three international space programmes and advocates for Africa’s role in the emerging space economy
Nairobi-born aerospace engineer Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba has been named on the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list, becoming a beacon for African representation in a global space industry that has historically overlooked the continent.
Source: Facebook
According to ForbesAfrica, Wanjiku grew up in Nairobi, where, as a child, she would gaze at satellites passing overhead in the night sky. That sense of wonder never left her.
While still a graduate student, she founded Vicillion, a private aerospace venture centred on space infrastructure, systems thinking, and interplanetary logistics, starting with no capital whatsoever.
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Her motivation, she says, runs deeper than personal ambition.
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“While nations raced to claim orbital real estate and lunar resources, African voices were absent from the table due to systemic exclusion. I wanted to change that,” she said.
Wanjiku Chebet on Africa’s Place in the Space Economy
Beyond building her own company, Wanjiku has positioned herself at the intersection of research, advocacy, and exploration.
She is a TSI R&D Career Astronaut-Candidate for Titans Space Industries, a Citizen Scientist at the European Space Agency, and a Scientist-Astronaut Candidate Programme graduate of both the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) and Project PoSSUM.
She is also a vocal proponent of the fact that is often overlooked in global space policy: Africa’s equatorial location gives the continent a natural geographical advantage for satellite launches, reducing the fuel required to reach orbit.
In her view, that advantage, combined with the continent’s young population and growing engineering talent, makes Africa’s inclusion in the space economy not just a matter of fairness but of strategic sense.
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Wanjiku’s journey from Nairobi to the Global stage
Wanjiku’s Forbes recognition has resonated widely among Kenyans and across the African tech and science community, many of whom see her story as proof that the continent can produce world-class talent in even the most elite fields.
@AstroAfrika254: “This is not just Wanjiku’s win. This is every African kid who ever looked up at the sky and dared to dream.”
@NairobiScienceHub: “Forbes 30 Under 30 with no starting capital and a vision to put Africa on the space map. Respect.”
@techmtaani_ke: “She founded Vicillion as a graduate student with zero capital. Imagine what she will build with resources behind her.”
@SpaceMamaNairobi: “The equatorial advantage argument she keeps making is so valid. We have been sitting on a launchpad, and nobody noticed.”
@chegeengineers: “Kenya produces doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Now, astronaut candidates are on Forbes lists. We move.”
@futurenairobians: “Grew up watching satellites from Nairobi, now she is helping build them. That is the Kenyan story right there.”
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Kenyan travels to London by road
In other news, TUKO also highlighted facts about Becky Kim and Bonnie Koko’s remarkable 122-day road trip from Nairobi to London, during which they traversed 60 countries and covered a staggering 45,470 kilometres.
Their journey not only demonstrated extraordinary resilience and courage but also served as a powerful symbol of national pride, inspiring countless Kenyans and adventurers across the globe to pursue their own dreams.
Source: NGBREAKINGNEWS
