State distances itself from compensation claim over space debris incident

The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) has distanced itself from claims that the government is demanding compensation from India for the space debris that fell in Mukuku village, Makueni County on Monday.

In a statement on Friday, Acting Director General Brigadier Hillary Kipkosgei clarified that the source of the debris is yet to be identified, but, investigations are ongoing to identify its particulars, what led to its falling and its rightful ownership.

"The Kenya Space Agency wishes to clarify that investigations into the space object fragments incident in Mukuku village, Makueni County, are still ongoing and the Kenya Space Agency has not reached any conclusion or attributed the space object to any space actor yet,” he said.

"Accordingly, the claim for notification for compensation demand allegedly made by the Government of Kenya is false and should be ignored. Neither the Kenya Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs nor the Kenya Space Agency, nor any other Government of Kenya entity has made any such notification.”

He added that information will be availed in due course as the investigations continue and details have been availed.

"The matter will be pursued through the laid down channels and as provided for under International Space Law. Members of the public are advised to be cautious of unverified or unofficial statements on the matter, refrain from circulating false information and await official communications from government Agencies," the acting DG said.

The incident was reported at Mukuku police post by the local chief after the circular, metallic object fell from the sky while red hot.

The report stated that it was of a 1.2m radius and was initially thought to be a damaged satellite frame.

"The same fell in a thicket adjacent to Thwake River about two kilometres away from Mukuku police post. Nobody was injured during the incident," the report stated.

Senior police officers rushed to the scene and recorded the incident before officials from KSA arrived to make an assessment and document the same.

After assessing it, they said the object weighed about 500kilos and that preliminary assessment showed it was a separation ring from a 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. This is an isolated case, which the agency will investigate and address using the established framework under the International Space Law," the agency said on Wednesday.

The debris that has been declared harmless is now under the custody of the space agency.