Residents of Kituneni C Village in Kaewa location, Machakos County, were stunned when a mysterious balloon-like object descended from the sky, causing confusion and speculation.
The unusual incident prompted immediate action as local authorities and detectives arrived to investigate.
After a thorough examination by the meteorological department of Kenya, the mystery was resolved.
According to Dominic Kyalo, the director of weather surveillance in Machakos County, the object spotted at Kaewa was identified as a weather balloon and was sent by his department.
This scientific tool is used to measure critical atmospheric parameters, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind speed, as it ascends through the atmosphere.
The balloon was part of a routine weather monitoring mission aimed at collecting data for research and forecasting.
Officials believe it may have lost control due to technical issues, leading to its unexpected descent into the public area.
The incident initially caused alarm among villagers, who were unsure of the object’s origin and purpose.
However, after the clarification by the meteorological team, the community breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Authorities assured residents that the object posed no harm and was purely for scientific purposes.
Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Masinga Sub-county have since secured the balloon and are conducting further investigations to determine why it veered off course.
This event has sparked discussions about the importance of public awareness regarding scientific tools and operations, emphasising the need for better communication to prevent unnecessary panic in similar situations.
By tuko