Kenya Warned of Potential Space Debris Re-Entry, Residents Urged to Stay Alert

NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyans have been urged to remain vigilant this weekend as a large piece of space debris is predicted to pass through the country’s airspace, potentially posing a risk to life and property.

The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) issued a public notice on Friday, warning of the possible re-entry of the object, a large fragment from a rocket body, which is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere on the night of Saturday, April 19, 2025, at around 11:15 PM.

The object, identified as Norad ID 61909/2024-205R, originated from a satellite launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China on November 11, 2024.

Its predicted trajectory crosses the eastern African region, including parts of Kenya.

However, the KSA cautioned that the actual re-entry time could vary by more than 15 hours, with the debris potentially entering anytime between 7:29 AM on April 19 and 3:01 PM on April 20, 2025.

While the object is not expected to land in Kenya, the KSA emphasized that the debris could still pose a threat due to its large size.

The likely flight path runs in a north-south direction, starting in northeastern Kenya and stretching toward the southeastern border with Tanzania.

The agency is working with its partners to refine predictions and monitor the situation.

This warning follows a similar incident in December 2024, when space debris was reported to have fallen in Makueni County.

The object, a metallic ring about 2.5 meters in diameter and weighing 500 kg, was confirmed by KSA to be a fragment from a rocket.

The KSA has urged members of the public to be cautious and to report any unusual sightings or falling objects to local authorities.

“We further urge members of the public to report promptly the dropping of any space debris to the security agencies through the nearest police station, national government administrative office, or military camp for necessary action,” the agency said.

The Kenya Space Agency continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as more precise information becomes available.