The government has unmasked the faces behind Worldcoin activities in Kenya even as it revealed the cryptocurrency firm is not licensed to operate in the country.
The revelation came just a day after Interior CS Kithure Kindiki suspended the firm’s activities in Kenya to pave the way for a probe into the legality of its operations.
At KICC
World Coin commenced its registration exercise on Monday. And Beneficiaries were given an incentive of cryptocurrency tokens worth approximately Sh7,000 on the condition that they allowed the scanning of their eyeballs.
Thousands of Kenyans flocked the Kenyatta International Convention Centre to cash in on the free cash. This was before the exercise was suspended on Wednesday over data protection concerns.
The suspension
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, in a statement on Wednesday, suspended Worldcoin activities. Kindiki said that the move will remain in effect until assurances of the safety and integrity of financial deals are provided.
“The government has suspended forthwith activities of World Coin and any other entity that may be similarly engaging the people of Kenya until relevant public agencies certify the absence of any risks to the general public whatsoever,” read the statement.
“Appropriate action will be taken on any natural or juristic person who furthers, aids, abets or otherwise engages in or is connected with the activities afore described.”
Kindiki unmasks faces behind Worldcoin activities in Kenya
The CS on Thursday appeared before Parliament to raise among other issues, the precautionary steps taken by the government on the already mined data.
“The aforesaid entity is not registered as a legal entity in Kenya,” Kindiki said.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the entity has hired a company in Kenya called Sense Marketing to do the data capture for them in the country,” the CS added.
“The local representatives of Worldcoin are Mr. Emmanuel Otieno who is described to be in charge of operations. And a Ms. Rael Mwende who is described as the Country Manager,” he said.
The CS said both individuals have been under interrogation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) since Wednesday.
“Among the foreign nationals associated with Worldcoin, are a Mr Poitr Piwowarczyk who is on record to have entered Kenya on several occasions, the last one being in June 2023,” Kindiki said.
“As a precautionary measure, the Immigration authorities have been directed to ensure that no persons whether Kenyan or foreign nationals associated with this entity leaves Kenya without the clearance of the Director of Criminal Investigations who is in charge of the ongoing investigations.”
He said.
Kindiki said investigations are aimed at establishing the authenticity and legality of Worldcoin’s activities, the safety and protection of the data harvested and how the harvesters intend to use the data.
By Wanjiru Mbaru