GEOHABARI

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Amplifying African Tech Stories and Elevating Technical Brilliance. This is a podcast for the geospatial community.

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48 recent

October 27, 2026Episode 238 min

Part I: Proving Our Business Model Works | Building Penta-b

Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari What does it take to turn a technical idea into a technology business serving Africa and the Middle East? A graduation project was the starting point. Twenty-two years later, Haitham Harras is the Founder and CEO of Penta-b. In Part I of The Making Of we sit down with Haitham Harras, Founder & CEO of Penta-b, for the story of how a university project, a life-changing trip to Esri Redlands, and a growing conviction that there was a gap in the market eventually led him to build his own company. From joining Esri's JavaScript API team to learning the business beyond technology, Haitham takes us through the decisions behind Penta-b's early days — building the first product, assembling the team, making the leap from employment, and navigating the moments when everything seemed to fall apart. It's a story about spotting an opportunity, betting on yourself, and learning the hard way what it really takes to build a technology business. CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 - Where It All Began 00:02:42 - Meet Haitham Harras, Founder & CEO of Penta-b 00:07:24 - The Graduation Project That Started It All 00:08:57 - Building a Navigation System on ArcPad 00:10:07 - From Graduation Project to Esri Middle East 00:10:42 - Inside Esri's JavaScript API Team 00:15:16 - Learning More Than Tech: Product, Sales & Business 00:18:50 - Spotting the Gap in the Market 00:20:14 - Leaving Esri to Build Penta-b 00:24:01 - Building the First Penta-b Team 00:28:07 - Penta-B's first product and first pitch 00:36:36 - The Blind Spot That Nearly Broke the Business 38:00 : When $20K/Month Was on the Table

October 12, 2026Episode 11 hr 11 min

From Reselling Software to In-House Solutions Development Across Eastern Africa | Eric Nyadimo

Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari In the first episode of **The Making Of**, we sit down with Eric Nyadimo, CEO of Oakar Services Limited, a regional geospatial consulting firm delivering solutions and training across Eastern Africa. Eric takes us back to his early career, the beginnings of Oakar, and stepping into the role of CEO at just 31. We explore how the business has evolved from reselling software from international brands to expanding into surveying and mapping and developing its own in-house software solutions used across the region. Beyond the business, we get into some of the conversations shaping Kenya's geospatial landscape, including the Kenya National Spatial Data Infrastructure (KNSDI) and Ardhi Sasa. Eric also shares perspectives from his wider industry leadership as President of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) and Chair of the Land and Physical Planning Board at KEPSA. - What does it take to grow a geospatial business, navigate change, and help shape an evolving industry? We get into all this and more in this episode of *The Making Of*. 00:00:00 – Meet Eric Nyadimo 00:05:40 – Early career and the road to Oakar 00:06:50 – Introducing Oakar Services 00:09:46 – The early days of geospatial companies in Kenya 00:12:32 – The services Oakar started with 00:13:10 – Taking over as CEO 00:16:03 – What does it really mean to be a CEO? 00:20:16 – The key roles in building a company 00:22:35 – Understanding Oakar's business model 00:25:00 – The strategic decision to have two separate companies 00:26:00 – Oakar Services Limited and Esri Eastern Africa 00:28:28 – Expanding Oakar's business portfolio 00:31:14 – Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) software 00:33:38 – The project that put Oakar on the map 00:35:27 – The tough decisions behind building a business 00:37:42 – Leadership beyond Oakar: ISK and KEPSA 00:44:00 – ISK (Institution of Surveyors Kenya) as a professional body 00:52:00 – Digitizing land in Kenya with Ardhi Sasa 00:58:55 – Advice for young professionals 01:03:41 – Kenya National Spatial Data Infrastructure (KNSDI)

October 5, 20261 min

The Making Of | Premieres 12th October.

Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari The official trailer for The Making Of. The series premieres on 12th October.

August 17, 2026Episode 1441 min

S3 E14: From Open Geospatial to NASA Lifelines & Authoring Astral Abyss

Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari In this episode of the GeoHabari Young Professionals Segment, I sat down with Nelson, a recent geospatial graduate, for one of those conversations that starts in geospatial and somehow ends up elsewhere. We got into the world of Open Geospatial data and tools, his experience with OpenStreetMap (OSM) and what it has taught him about building communities around open data. Nelson also shared his experience as a microgrant juror, giving us a glimpse into the kinds of ideas and projects that are emerging from the open mapping ecosystem. We then took things a little further out. Nelson talked about his role as an advisor for NASA Lifelines, the thinking behind building systems that can support communities through some of the world's biggest challenges, and where geospatial data fits into that picture. And because apparently maps and space weren't enough, we also got into his new book, Astral Abyss, exploring another side of Nelson's work, hobbies and imagination. It's a conversation about open data, mapping, community, space, technology, creativity and the strange paths a career can take when you don't put yourself in one box. Because sometimes the most interesting geospatial careers aren't the ones that follow a straight line. Watch. Listen. And maybe rethink what you think "Geospatial" can actually become. The book Astral Abyss is available on Amazon; https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9914509312?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SH2SERCMR79GR3K8N32D&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SH2SERCMR79GR3K8N32D&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SH2SERCMR79GR3K8N32D&bestFormat=true #GeoHabari #YoungProfessionals #OpenStreetMap #OpenGeoSpatial #GIS #NASA #Geospatial #OpenData #Space #AstralAbyss

July 27, 2026Episode 133 min

S3E13: Why Countries Must Invest in National Data Systems

Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari What does it take for countries to build data systems that serve their people, strengthen governance, and shape their own digital futures? On the sidelines of the Global Data Festival and the Kenya Space Expo and Conference 2026, we sat down with Jenna Slotin, CEO of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, to explore what success looks like for national data systems in the years ahead. In this conversation, we discuss: Why countries should invest in data systems as critical infrastructure What it means for nations to drive their own digital futures in the age of AI The role of governments, citizens and partnerships in building resilient, trusted data ecosystems

July 22, 2026Episode 1249 min

S3E12: What Is Space Weather? How It Affects GPS, Satellites & Your Everyday Life

Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari Have you ever heard someone introduce themselves as a Space Weather Expert? Neither had we. In this episode of the GeoHabari Young Professionals Segment, Linus sits down with Mary Dusabe, a Navigation & Positioning Engineer at the Kenya Space Agency, researcher, instrumentation engineer, and space weather specialist, to unpack one of the most fascinating careers you've probably never heard of. Together, they explore what space weather actually is, why solar storms matter, how they affect GPS, satellites and communication systems, and why this field is becoming increasingly important in our connected world. But beyond the science lies an equally inspiring story. Mary shares her journey into this highly specialized field, the decisions that shaped her career, the value of curiosity, the importance of building strong technical and communication skills, and why young professionals shouldn't be afraid to explore paths that don't yet have a roadmap. Whether you're in geospatial sciences, engineering, technology, or simply trying to figure out your own career path, this conversation is packed with practical insights and a refreshing reminder that some of the most exciting careers are the ones we were never told about. If you enjoyed this conversation, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who loves technology, science, or is still figuring out where their career might take them.

July 13, 2026Episode 115 min

S3E11 : Shaping Kenya's Space Future | Major General Hillary Kipkosgey

Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari What keeps the Director-General of the Kenya Space Agency, Major General Hillary Kipkosgey, up at night? We caught up with him on the sidelines of the Global Data Festival and Kenya Space Conference & Expo to hear his perspective on: What success looks like for Kenya's space sector and the broader African ecosystem How Africa can collectively strengthen the upstream and downstream space value chain. The one question we couldn't leave without asking: What keeps him up at night?

July 6, 2026Episode 1050 min

S3E10: Murky Road to Discovering Your Path

Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari What if the best career decisions aren't the ones you planned... but the ones you were curious enough to explore? In this episode of the Young Professionals Segment on the GeoHabari Podcast, Linus and Chelsea sit down with Majuek, whose career journey is anything but conventional. Rather than following a neatly laid-out roadmap, he shares the lessons, mindset shifts, and experiences that helped shape his professional journey, and why sometimes the path only makes sense when you look back. Together, they explore what it really means to create opportunities for yourself, build meaningful relationships, communicate your value, and remain open to unexpected turns along the way. One of the standout moments from the conversation? "If I can't call you tomorrow after networking, then all I just did was add a contact to my list." It's a simple statement, but it completely reframes what networking is really about. Whether you're a student trying to figure out your next step, an early-career professional navigating uncertainty, or someone simply wondering if they're "behind" in life, this conversation is a reminder that careers aren't built in straight lines—they're built through curiosity, relationships, consistency, and the courage to keep moving. Sometimes the road is murky. That doesn't mean you're lost. It might just mean you're discovering a path that's uniquely yours.

June 29, 2026Episode 954 min

S3E9: When Data Meets Reality: Lessons from Agriculture & Public Health

Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari On this episode, host Yariwo Kitiyo sits down with Lisa Mbwia a Data and Spatial Consultant and Nancy Kinyua - Geospatial & MERL Specialist | Data Systems to explore what it really takes to turn data into impact in two of the most data-rich sectors: public health and agriculture. Drawing from their experience working across geospatial technologies, public health, agriculture and development programmes, they unpack the realities of working with data in complex, real-world systems. From community health workers and smallholder farms to field validation, fragmented systems and data governance, this conversation goes beyond the datasets to explore the people, processes and decisions that ultimately shape impact. Together, they discuss: - The current state of the public health and agriculture data ecosystem. - Practical applications of GIS and geospatial data in solving real-world challenges. - Why rich datasets don't always translate into better outcomes. - The realities of navigating fragmented data systems, governance and implementation. - What builders, policymakers, funders and practitioners should consider when designing solutions that work in practice.

June 22, 2026Episode 829 min

S3E8: Builders Reality Room – Ecosystem Perspectives on Data and Space Systems

Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari What do we need to build data and space systems that underpin sustainable development? In Part II of The Builders Reality Room, we move beyond the builder's journey and into the ecosystem itself. Bringing together perspectives from startups, funding and development organizations, government institutions, academia, and data and AI practitioners, this conversation explores what happens when the actors responsible for building, enabling, regulating, researching, and scaling systems sit at the same table. Featuring Agnes Tsuma (GIZ), Eddie Kago (Antugrow), Charles Mwangi (Kenya Space Agency), Kory Korir (Amini), and Dr. Pamela Ochungo (Technical University of Kenya), the discussion unpacks how these ecosystem actors intersect in practice, where the gaps remain, and what it will take to build data and space systems that deliver impact at scale. This episode is part of Geohabari's Global Data Festival 2026 and Kenya Space Expo Conference series.