The government, through the Kenya Space Agency, has cautioned Kenyans to be vigilant about the potential re-entry of a strange object from space.
The Agency, in a statement on Friday, April 18, noted that the object was of particular interest to Kenya, as the projected flight trajectory was over the eastern African region.
According to the Space Agency, the object could fall in Kenya, either from the North Eastern region to the South East of the country towards Tanzania and further southward.
Kenyans were urged to take great caution, as the object was predicted to fall within the region between Saturday, April 19, at around 7:29 am, and Sunday, April 20, at around 3:01 pm.
The Agency further warned that the object, of unknown weight, could pose a significant risk to people's lives and property along its path, owing to its large size.
"The Kenya Space Agency is working with partners to obtain a more precise prediction of the flight path and timeline," the Agency announced.
"While the debris is not expected to drop in Kenya, KSA, out of an abundance of caution, wishes to advise members of the public to be vigilant and to be on the lookout for potential debris dropping from or flying through the sky within the specified period."
Further, Kenyans were urged to report a dropping of any space debris to the security agencies through the nearest police station, national government administrative office or military camp for necessary action.
The latest announcement comes on the back of a similar incident that occurred on December 30, 2024, where a large space debris weighing 500 kilogrammes fell in Makuku Village, Makueni County.
According to villagers, a loud bang accompanied the object’s descent, prompting their attention. The locals who gathered around the ring-like object speculated about its origin and the dangers to their safety.
Days after its descent, the Kenya Space Agency and officials from the National Police Service (NPS) secured the site and retrieved the debris before commencing an investigation.
In a press statement, KSA confirmed that the ring-shaped object was a separation from a space rocket, adding that such items re-enter the atmosphere after burning up.
