The loud impact startled residents, some of whom initially feared it was an attack or a bomb explosion.
Joseph Mutua, a local villager,recountedthe event to Kenyan news station NTV.
However, there were no signs of a collision nearby.
The source of the disturbance turned out to be space debris a separation ring from a rocket launch.
These components are typically designed to burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere or fall into remote areas.
Occasionally, however, they veer slightly off course.
The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) was quickly alerted and sprang into action.
Collaborating with local authorities, they secured the area and took the hefty ring into custody for further investigation.
Preliminary assessments suggested the debris was from a launch vehicle re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.
While rare, incidents like this are becoming more frequent as Earth’s orbital paths become increasingly congested.
Most of this debris burns up safely upon re-entry, but some make it uncomfortably close to the ground.
Additionally, in March, a piece of the International Space Stationcrashedthrough a family’s house in Florida.
At times, even the station itself has had to performmaneuversto avoid incoming debris.
For now, Kenyan authorities are still investigating the exact origin of the fallen ring.
