How Business Registered In Kenya Carried Out Worldcoin Operations- Kindiki

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.

How Business Registered In Kenya Carried Out Worldcoin Operations- Kindiki
Collage image of a Wordcoin Orb and Interior CS, Kithure Kindiki during a Cabinet meeting at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County. /VIRALTEAKE

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.

WorldCoin's iris-scanning device is seen at a sign-up site in Shoreditch, East London, Britain July 24, 2023. /REUTERS

“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.

The Interior CS appeared at the National Assembly alongside ICT Eliud Owalo to respond to MPs’ concerns on the operations of Worldcoin in Kenya.

In a previous joint statement, the CSs traced the origin of Worldcoin's operations in the country and observed that the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) learnt that Worldcoin set up booths across the country to scan the iris of interested Kenyans on April 19, 2022, in anticipation of the launch of their cryptocurrency which happened at the start of August.

A Kenyan participating in a Worldcoin registration exercise at KICC on August 1, 2023. /FACEBOOK.ANYAMAH WA ANYAMAH
Marvin is a man who wears many hats as well as one of many talents. The digital journalist and editor rose from studying a Psychology degree at the United States International University-Africa (USIU) and working as an intern at Kenyans.co.ke to the Founder & Editor-In-Chief at Viral Tea Ke, driving it into one of the fastest-growing digital media platforms in the country. He believes in serving that hot tea; every day and every hour. His skills include editing, writing, social media analytics, teamwork, and good communication skills and is ready to learn, re-learn and unlearn. Previously, Marvin also served as the Digital Editor at Bright Kenya News and has had stints at 254News.co.ke and Afrotape.com as a Content Curator His works as a commentator have been featured in newspapers such as Daily Nation, Business Daily, The Star and People Daily either solo or alongside other fellow young journalists. He is a believer in growing young talent in the media industry, passing on lessons learnt from other experienced digital journalists to scribes that look up to him. Currently, he is pushing to have aviation journalism popular among media houses in Kenya. As a believer in victory, he is a fan of Chelsea Football Club and some say he has a radio voice.

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