The government has intensified public awareness campaigns on short and long-term health impacts of potential chemical hazards and cautioned Kenyans against visiting Makuku village in Makueni where a metallic object that fell from the sky landed on December 30, 2024.
In a statement released on Saturday, January 4, Principal Secretary (PS) for Public Health and Professional Standards in the Ministry of Health Mary Muthoni stated that despite preliminary investigations indicating that the object posed no immediate threat to public health, caution is still called for.
The PS advised the public to not only avoid the area, but also refrain from touching the object or coming into contact with any unknown material in the area.
The Ministry of Health advises the public to avoid the area where the object was found and refrain from handling any unknown materials.
Effective response by the government
The statement also called for enhanced vigilance among locals, encouraging them to report any health concerns or unusual environmental changes to authorities.
READ: Kenya Space Agency explains 500kg object that fell from the sky in Makueni
While preliminary assessments suggest no immediate threat to public health, communities are encouraged to report any health concerns or unusual environmental changes to local health authorities. The Ministry remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all Kenyans and will provide updates as investigations progress.
The PS added that effective measures have been taken, including the deployment of specialised teams and intensified public awareness campaigns.
In response to this incident, a multi-agency team was swiftly deployed to the site. Security personnel cordoned off the area and engaged the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), Kenya Space Agency (KSA), Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA), and the Ministry of Health (MoH) to coordinate the response and ensure public safety.
Actions Underway: Intensified public awareness campaigns on short and long-term health impacts of potential chemical hazards. Provision of mental health and psychosocial support for affected communities. Strengthening national preparedness and response capacity for CBRN incidents.
Kenya Space Agency explains object that fell from the sky and landed in Makueni
The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) issued an official statement identifying the object as a fragment of a space vehicle.
The object, a metallic ring measuring approximately 2.5 meters in diameter and weighing about 500 kilograms, is believed to be a separation ring from a space launch vehicle, commonly designed to burn up upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere or fall in uninhabited areas such as oceans.