Kenya resists US pressure to resume WorldCoin operations amidst safety concerns

Kenya’s Interior Minister, Kithure Kindiki, announced in parliament that the US government has been putting considerable pressure on the Kenyan government to permit the resumption of operations relating to WorldCoin, a blockchain-based digital token associated with Sam Altman.

However, he informed that the Kenyan government has remained resolute and will not yield to the US pressure until safety concerns raised in August 2023 regarding WorldCoin project are satisfactorily enclosed.

Prof Kindiki stated, “The US has been pressuring diligently on the issues concerning WorldCoin, but our stance has remained unshakeable and firm. The decision taken by our government to sustain the suspension of WorldCoin operations will persist. We will not consider revising it.”

Last year in August, Kenya declared a ban on the WorldCoin project, which allowed users to scan their iris to get a digital ID and subsequently acquire free money. Interior Minister, Kindiki then expressed the government’s apprehension about the project and launched investigations to ensure the safety and security of the data being gathered, as well as the intended use of it by the obtainers.

WorldCoin reacted to this restriction by discontinuing its activity in Kenya, stating its dedication to adhering to all the necessary legislations put forth by the Kenyan authorities so as to guarantee a safe and law-abiding ecosystem.

In response to Kenyan restrictions, WorldCoin stated, “In accordance with Kenyan laws and regulations, WorldCoin ensures complete compliance and transparency in all its operations within the nation. We ardently believe in nurturing productive communication with local stakeholders, including the government and appropriate authorities, to ensure a frictionless and beneficial partnership.”

In September 2023, Alex Blania, CEO of WorldCoin, presented himself before the National Assembly Ad Hoc Committee to address doubts and concerns raised by many Kenyan stakeholders, including the public. He apprised the committee that prior to the suspension of the project in Kenya, WorldCoin had already gained 350,000 users. Every enlisted recruit received 25 WorldCoin tokens, the value of which was $45.

Blania mentioned that WorldCoin devoted millions of dollars in Kenya before the issuance of these tokens through various educational programs across the nation. As global interest in the digital token escalates, a study by CoinJournal demonstrated Kenya as an epicentre of enthusiasm based on Google Trends data.

The study findings revealed that Kenyan consumers showed considerably increased interest compared to other nations. Kenya achieved a Google Trends score of 100, indicating a potent interest in WorldCoin and related initiatives.

Fuelled by the ambition of Sam Altman and closely connected to OpenAI’s advancements, WorldCoin undertakes the mission of revolutionizing identity verification through technology. The project aims at providing individuals with distinct digital identities by amalgamating iris scanning technology and blockchain. This initiative addresses critical issues revolving around digital identity verification.