The National Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee of Inquiry delving into the Worldcoin project has been apprised that a significant 25% of the cryptocurrency firm’s clientele consists of Kenyan individuals.
Remarkably, within merely a week, around 350 thousand Kenyan citizens registered for Worldcoin, forming a quarter of the total customer base for the cryptocurrency initiative.
During the committee session, David Njoka, the Head of Cyber Security Standards and Policy at the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee, shared insights.
He revealed that Worldcoin initially positioned itself as a research institution but subsequently intensified its data collection and processing endeavors.
Njoka highlighted the speed at which Worldcoin’s adoption took place within Kenya, echoing the broader trend of cryptocurrency acceptance.
He expressed concerns about the rapid registration, stating, “The rate at which Worldcoin was being adopted, just like other cryptocurrencies in the country, was quite alarming. We need to halt and find a solution. Having 350 thousand registrations in one week is a remarkably high figure.”
In contrast to previous government statements asserting that the data extracted from Kenyan citizens remained within the country and was secure, Njoka unveiled that the data is, in fact, stored on servers located in the United States of America.
He elaborated, “From our interviews, they mentioned that the data was transferred to Amazon servers based in the US. They had indicated that the data is secure, but this necessitates thorough investigation.”
However, Njoka and his director James Kimuyu encountered criticism from committee members for their perceived failure to fulfill their roles and allow Worldcoin to operate illicitly within the country.
Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto expressed dissatisfaction, saying, “We should receive comprehensive answers to the questions we raise because no one else can address them. We need to revise the cybercrimes act and establish an empowered committee to address these matters.”
Dagoreti South MP John Kiarie questioned Njoka’s role and responsibilities, asking, “What role do you play in the registration and establishment of companies like Worldcoin?”
Worldcoin’s activities within Kenya were suspended on August 2 due to prevailing security concerns.
