MPs Raise Issue With Kindiki Contradicting CS Owalo's Remarks

Members of the National Assembly on Wednesday, August 2 voiced their frustrations regarding what they termed as surprising statements made by some members of President William Ruto's Executive.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and ICT CS Eliud Owalo have been in the spotlight for issuing contradictory statements on each other regarding the status of the controversial cryptocurrency firm, Worldcoin, in the country.

Minority Leader of the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi while addressing the issue at the August House believed that the Executive was playing games with Kenyans' lives by treating a critical matter of personal data with a sense of uncertainty.

"We only have one government, yet you will find CS Owalo saying one thing while Kindiki issuing contradictory statements over the same subject matter. Who will the public believe? This is not allowed," Wandayi complained.

How Did The CS Kindiki vs CS Owalo Begin?

Earlier on Wednesday, CS Owalo in an interview with NTV noted that despite the government looking into Worldcoin, the cryptocurrency company which has attracted thousands of Kenyans with a near-Ksh8,000 registration incentive, the government was yet to crack down on and shut down the international company as it had not broken any laws.

“Information available to the Data Commissioner is that within the existing legal frameworks is that there is no provision in the law that the organisation has breached. There has been correspondence with them,” Owalo said, adding that Worldcoin's argument was that they were getting their data voluntarily from Kenyans.

“There could be security and regulatory issues around it which we need to improve, but as far as the Data Act is concerned, they were acting within the law.”

However, CS Kindiki hours later moved to announce the suspension of Worldcoin's operations in the country owing to concerns regarding data safety.

"Relevant security, financial services and data protection agencies have commenced inquiries and investigations to establish the authenticity and legality of the aforesaid activities, the safety and protection of the data being harvested, and how the harvesters intend to use the data," read part of the statement.

Kindiki's statement was supported by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua who highlighted that the government would use every available resource to ensure the data safety of Kenyans.

"Let us all support the stoppage of Kenyans being used as Guinea Pigs & their data being harvested. Being paid is important but you have to ask yourself why your eyes are being scanned and information gathered. What does it mean and what will it mean to you and your offspring?" Mutua posed on Twitter.

The remarks particularly made by CSs Kindiki and Owalo, the latter having been summoned by National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula to appear before the House to provide an explanation regarding the situation, sparked confusion across the country and added to scenarios whereby Cabinet ministers made orders separate from their dockets.

CS Nakhumicha Overstepping Her Role?

The confusion began gaining prominence on Saturday, July 29 when Health CS Susan Nakhumicha ordered the transfer of Matisi Officer Commanding a Police Station (OCS) John Thuo following violent clashes between two groups in his area of jurisdiction during anti-government protests staged by the Azimio la Umoja coalition.

Speaking during the burial of a popular bouncer who lost his life in the incident, Nakhumicha had claimed that she has the powers to effect the change citing President William Ruto's ‘one-government approach designed to enhance coordination across government. 

"We don't require Interior CS (Kithure) Kindiki to be here so that an OCS can be transferred. I am in Ruto's government and I stand here as his representative, so I order that the county commandant to listen and if he's not here, let the information reach him, I have said that in 24 hours, the OCS needs to have been transferred," she stated, despite making orders outside her docket and only synonymous with the Ministry of Interior and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).

CS Susan Nakhumicha with President William Ruto at State House on August 1, 2023. /SUSAN NAKHUMICHA

"I am informed that the OCS is here, he has heard what I have said. This is not a laughing matter, Mr. OCS those are the instructions. I will just go and report to my colleague, Kindiki, the action that I have taken."

The move generated confusion and drew uproar from stakeholders, among them 21 organisations under the umbrella of Police Reforms Working Groups (PRWG) who criticised CS Nakhumicha for overstepping her mandate by performing a duty that was the preserve of the NPSC.

Ruto Slams Govt Officials For Cluelessness About Their Jobs

President Ruto on Tuesday, August 1, during the signing of performance contracts ceremony at State House which brought together all Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, heads of parastatals and other senior government officials, raised the issue of senior government officials who were clueless about what goes on in their departments on a day to day basis.

“The moment I know more than you in your ministry then you must begin to understand that something is very wrong. Because by the constitution, you are supposed to advise me. Explain to me how you are going to advise me if you have less information than I do.

"I call many PSs and ask them what is going on and they have no clue, and this is your department. That is the job that you have. How do you run a department if you don't have knowledge? That is the highest level of incompetence," Ruto sharply rebuked.