How Business Registered In Kenya Carried Out Worldcoin Operations- Kindiki

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday, August 9 revealed that the cryptocurrency firm, Worldcoin, had collected data from Kenyans using a different company duly registered in the country.

Speaking during a plenary sitting at the National Assembly, the CS hinted at the company coordinating the actual process of harvesting and processing data instead of Worldcoin, even though it was registered as a controller of data.

Kindiki had maintained that the fact that Worldcoin officials visited Kenya in the first place had implied liability on their part whether the entity was directly involved or not.

“This entity appeared to have carried its operations through a Kenyan agency. Although the company had been registered as a controller of data, the actual operation of harvesting and processing data seems to have been coordinated by a properly registered business owned and managed by Kenyans,” said Kindiki.

He added that the government has since frozen the movement of any individual associated with the Wolrdcoin activities in the country and that those involved in the Worldcoin activities in the country recorded statements.

He also pleaded with foreign countries to extradite WorldCoin staff to Kenya for purposes of recording statements after he accused them of exploiting data.

“We have frozen the movement of any person whether Kenyan or foreign associated with that activity. We are using our legal instruments and mutual legal assistance to ensure those people as likely to be the case will be held accountable.

“Some of them especially the local ones have recorded testaments and we will also be requesting the surrender of those outside our territory so that they can also record statements,” Kindiki added.

Among those the CS hinted would be interrogated should his request be granted include Sam Altman, WorldCoin owner and US tech entrepreneur and his co-founders Max Novendstern and Alex Blania. 

He reiterated that the government had suspended WorldCoin's operation in Kenya after it was found to have breached data laws.

He also wants the authorities to explain how the firm was allowed to collect data from Kenyans without clearly outlining WorldCoin's operations, how the data was protected and how it will be exploited.

"I want to inform the house and the country that we believe crimes have been committed, crimes against the Data Protection Act, the privacy of the people of Kenya, and the penal code. All those found culpable shall be held accountable whether they are Kenyans or not," the CS assured.

According to the CS, investigations were being carried out to ensure that those who will be found guilty are held to account, though he assured that there was no cause for alarm.

He also acknowledged that the government should have acted on time while dealing with the matter, which caught investigative agencies off-guard.

"Ordinarily, security agencies do not interfere with business operations and everyday activities unless there is reason to," he clarified, though the ministry had monitored the activities for three days before swinging into action.