Aerospace Engineer Wanjiku Kanjumba Earns Spot on Forbes Africa 30 Under 30

Kenyan aerospace engineer and entrepreneur Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba has been named to Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list, recognising her contributions to the space industry and her efforts to advance Africa’s role in the sector.

Born and raised in Nairobi, Kanjumba developed an interest in space at an early age while watching satellites pass overhead. That curiosity later shaped a career focused on aerospace engineering and entrepreneurship. While still a graduate student, she founded Vicillion, a private aerospace company specialising in space infrastructure and interplanetary logistics. 

She established the venture without initial funding, a milestone that has attracted interest among young innovators across Africa. Kanjumba’s work extends beyond business. She is a TSI R&D Career Astronaut-Candidate with Titans Space Industries, a Citizen Scientist with the European Space Agency, and a graduate of astronaut training programmes at the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences and Project PoSSUM. 

These positions have placed her among a small number of Africans involved in astronautical science and research at an international level. A key focus of her advocacy is Africa’s potential role in the global space economy. 

She argues that the continent’s equatorial location provides an advantage for satellite launches by reducing the fuel needed to reach orbit. Combined with a young population and expanding engineering expertise, she believes Africa is well-positioned to increase its participation in the sector.

“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,” Kanjumba said.

Her inclusion on the Forbes Africa list has been welcomed by many Kenyans and members of the African scientific community. Supporters have described the recognition as an indication of the growing influence of African innovators in fields traditionally dominated by other regions.