A special committee was recently established by the Kenyan Parliament to look into Worldcoin’s operations there. The 15-member committee is supposed to report back to parliament in 42 days, according to the Kenyan House Speaker. In a recent decision, a Kenyan court judge ruled that Worldcoin must keep all data it received between April 2022 and August 2023.
A special meeting of recently established “National Intelligence Coordination Committee” was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan at Inter Services Intelligence Secretariat (ISI) Islamabad. pic.twitter.com/puc818denG
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) June 23, 2021
Parliament Joins Movement Against Worldcoin
A 15-person joint committee has been formed by the Kenyan parliament specifically to look at Worldcoin. The committee, which is headed by Narok West lawmaker Gabriel Tongoyo, is supposed to submit a report in 42 days, according to Kenya’s speaker of parliament.
GREEN Movement Party joins LSK's 'occupy Parliament' clamour to push for enforcement of CJ Maraga's dissolution advise. pic.twitter.com/XLFZHGv5zA
— CapitalFM Breaking News (@BreakingNewsKE) October 7, 2020
A few weeks after Worldcoin activities in Kenya were halted by the Kenyan government, the committee’s formation was announced. According to Bitcoin.com News, the suspension will give authorities a chance to evaluate the potential harm the cryptocurrency initiative poses to public safety. Kenyan law enforcement is said to have searched Worldcoin headquarters shortly after the suspension notice and seized data storage equipment.
Meanwhile, the secretary of Kenya’s ICT ministry, Eliud Owalo, first appeared to support the cryptocurrency concept until Kenyan officials pounced on Worldcoin. This viewpoint appeared to conflict with the Kenyan Data Commissioner’s take on the situation. Owalo, the company that is primarily responsible for Worldcoin, asserted following the raid that Tools for Humanity had broken the terms of its registration license.
Kenyan Court’s Data Preservation Order
The Star said that the parliament summoned Owalo and Kindiki Kithure, the interior minister’s deputy, due to the Kenyan government’s allegedly divergent views on Worldcoin activities.
🇰🇪 REGULATION | WorldCoin Reportedly Ignored an Order to Stop Collecting Biometric Data in Kenya
ODPC has filed a petition to the country's High Court seeking the court's assistance to compel #WorldCoin to retain the data it collected from Kenyan individuals.
This action is… pic.twitter.com/tCygWSkMke
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) August 18, 2023
According to Kenyan House Speaker Moses Wetangula, “in light of the foregoing, the two cabinet secretaries who were scheduled to appear before this House tomorrow will instead appear before the committee to provide information on the matter.”
A Kenyan court judge recently made an order, according to the source, requiring the retention of all data gathered by Worldcoin between April 2022 and August 2023.