Is it a bomb? Is it a plane crash? No, it’s space junk
Mukuku had never seen such activity. When the object was carted away later that day by the KSA, the buzz gave way to concerns about what the villagers had had in their midst.
The KSA said its preliminary assessments indicated the object was “a separation ring” from a space launch 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,” its statement said the next day.
No-one was injured when it had fallen but some in Mukuku began to complain that the impact of the crash had caused damage to nearby houses.
Christine Kionga, who lives about a kilometre from the crash site, showed us cracks in the concrete of some of the buildings in her home compound. She said they had appeared after the crash.
Other neighbours alleged the structural integrity of their homes had also been affected – allegations that are yet to be substantiated.
“The government needs to find the owners of this object, and get compensation for those affected by it,” Mukuku resident Benson Mutuku told the BBC.
There were reports in the local media that some residents had begun to complain of feeling unwell after exposure to the metallic ring though there was no confirmation from those we spoke to when we visited – nor from the authorities or the KSA.
Nonetheless Mr Mutuku said there were concerns about the long-term effects of possible space radiation.
“This is a space object and we have heard in other similar incidents that there have been effects of radiation affecting even future generations and there is that fear in this community.”
However tests run later by the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority revealed that while the metal ring did have higher radiation levels than the area in which it was found, they were not at a level harmful to humans.
