Kenyan government, through the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) has identified a large metal object that fell from space earlier this week to likely be a separation ring from a rocket launch.

The space agency in a press release addressed the situation, assuring that there is no threat to public safety. The object, weighing more than 1,000 pounds, landed in Mukuku Village, Makueni County, in southern Kenya on Monday.

”Preliminary assessments indicate that the fallen object is a separation ring from a launch vehicle (rocket). Such objects are usually designed to burn up as they re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere or to fall over unoccupied areas, such as the oceans,” it added. 

”This is an isolated case, which the Agency will investigate and address using the established framework under international space law.”

KSA also revealed that they had taken over the scene where the material fell, dispelling fears that were initially rife that residents were left to freely handle the object, oblivious of the harm it could potentially pose to them.

”On receipt of the information on the morning of Tuesday, 31 December 2024, KSA officials rushed to the scene and working alongside a multi-agency team and local authorities, secured the area and retrieved the debris, which is now under the Agency’s custody for further investigation,” KSA stated.

”We want to assure the public that the object poses no immediate threat to safety. Our experts will analyse the object, use existing frameworks to identify the owner, and keep the public informed of the next steps and outcomes,” KSA announced.

KSA equally urged the public to report any suspicious objects or unusual occurrences promptly to the relevant authorities and thanked the affected residents for their prompt response to the incident.