A bright fireball in multiple pieces was observed from southern Kenya
traveling to the northwest at approximately 10:00 am July 16, 2011. Residents around
Kiambu County in the Thika District reported multiple loud explosions and loud
screaming noises, with ground shaking. The first piece (~2.5 kg) landed within
1 m of a woman tilling her field in the village of Kihum Wiri (also spelled Kiumwiri).
This meteorite was subsequently removed by the military and taken to the
University of Nairobi. Multiple pieces were then found in the nearby village of
Mwana Wikio. Two meteorites smashed through greenhouses in Mwana Wikio and one
through a house in nearby Muguga village. Stones were recovered from a 7.7 × 1.6 km
strewnfield bearing N30°W. The main mass, 3.575 kg, was found outside Rose
Kamande’s house in Kihum Wiri the day after the fall. Total known mass is
currently 14.2 kg totaling 14 individuals, distributed primarily as large
stones, e.g., 3575 g, ~2.5 kg, 1.75 kg and 1.3 kg. Only a few small stones
have so far been recovered. All stones were recovered before rainfall.The
Thika meteorite is classified as an L6 Ordinary Chondrite.