Residents of Mukuku village in Makueni County are experiencing unusual health issues after coming into contact with a mysterious metallic object that fell from the sky on December 30, 2024.
Those who approached the object report suffering from severe headaches, itchiness, and fever, with some experiencing intense body pain.
The object, which was on fire when it landed around 3:00 p.m., has drawn the attention of locals like Richard Musyoka, who was one of the first to visit the site.
Musyoka, who was near the object while it was still burning, initially felt no immediate effects.
However, three days later, he began experiencing a persistent headache, which he initially tried to treat with water and over-the-counter painkillers, but the discomfort only worsened.
“The headache felt different from anything I’ve had before, so I thought maybe taking some Piriton would help,” Musyoka said.
By January 5, the pain had become unbearable, prompting him to take a double dose of the antihistamine.
But when he woke up the following morning, he described feeling pain throughout his body, with a sensation that the heat from the scene had affected his health.
“I went to the hospital and was prescribed ointments, but I still feel like my body is burning,” he said, urging the government to send medical professionals to investigate what is causing the symptoms in those who visited the site.
“Health should be the priority, not compensation,” he emphasized.
Alfred Maithya, another local who visited the crash site, reported similar symptoms after he came into close contact with the object.
Maithya said the complications began three days after he moved a post that was positioned near the fallen object.
“I have a severe headache, itching all over, and my face aches.
I can’t even walk in the sun without a cap, and at night, it feels like something is piercing my skin,” he explained.
The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) has since confirmed that the object is a fragment of a space object.
According to their findings, the metallic ring, which measures about 2.5 meters in diameter and weighs approximately 500 kg, is likely a separation ring from a rocket or launch vehicle.
KSA clarified that such objects are designed to burn up upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere or to land in uninhabited areas like oceans.
The agency has launched preliminary assessments but has yet to determine if the object’s impact on the residents’ health is related to its descent or the fire it generated upon landing.
South African Singer And Actress Winnie Khumalo Dies At 51 After Short Illness
Email your news TIPS to Editor@NairobiNews.co.ke
