By Edward Lyomu | Mulembe Times
The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) has issued a public safety alert regarding the possible fall of space debris expected to pass over parts of the country this weekend.In a statement released Friday, KSA revealed that the debris—believed to be from a rocket body of unknown mass—could enter Earth’s atmosphere and descend along a path stretching from Kenya’s North Eastern region to the South East, continuing into Tanzania and further south.According to projections, the re-entry is expected around 11:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 19. However, due to the unpredictability of space object trajectories, the agency has provided a re-entry window ranging from 7:29 a.m. on Saturday to 3:01 p.m. on Sunday, April 20—a margin of error of 15 hours and 46 minutes.“The object’s size poses a potential risk to life and property,” KSA warned, urging the public to remain vigilant throughout the predicted timeframe.The agency advised citizens to report any unusual falling objects or suspected debris to the nearest police station, government administrative office, or military camp.This isn’t the first time Kenyans have been alerted to falling space objects. In January 2025, a 2.5-metre-wide metallic object—estimated to weigh 500 kilograms—plummeted from the sky and landed in Makuku village, Makueni County, raising concerns among local residents. KSA later confirmed it had separated from a rocket.While such debris is typically designed to burn up upon atmospheric re-entry or land in uninhabited regions, the agency emphasized that caution is necessary due to the unpredictable nature of space debris.
