Kasait reveals the year World Coin began its activity in Kenya

By Robert Mutasi 

US-based cryptocurrency company, World Coin, has continued operations in Kenya despite explicit directives to halt its activities in the country.

The Office of Data Protection Management has disclosed that the international company had been served with a cease and desist order, revoking its registration certificate, due to alarming issues about its operations.

Data Commissioner Immaculate Kassait, while addressing the National Assembly ICT Committee, informed the members that World Coin had been unlawfully harvesting data from Kenyans starting from May 2021.

“We have been proactive in protecting Kenyan's data, taking necessary measures under the law including questioning, halting their operations, alerting the public, and initiating investigations,” she added.

Kassait further revealed that World Coin was served a cease and desist notice in May, 2023, but disregarded the warnings and continued its data collection activities, which involved iris scans in return for cryptocurrency tokens.

A comprehensive investigation involving multiple agencies, including the Director of Criminal Investigation, is currently underway, with results expected within three months.

The Office of the Data Protection Management questioned the firm's strategy of monetizing data capture to entice Kenyans into giving consent.

Kassait described this as an instance of induced consent, warning Kenyans to be cautious when providing sensitive information. 

She admitted that the number of Kenyans affected by World Coin's data capture activities remains unknown and investigations are ongoing.

She also highlighted the legal shortcomings and enforcement gaps that have exposed Kenyans to exploitation by the US cryptocurrency firm.

“The World Coin issue extends beyond the jurisdiction of the data commissioner’s office. We are not shifting blame, but rather highlighting the need for a more collaborative approach to regulation,” Kassait stated.

A multitude of Kenyans gathered at the Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi for the iris scans.

The company gifted 25 free tokens, approximately worth Sh7,000, to those who registered, attracting thousands to sign-up points in Nairobi.

The founders of the project claim it aims to overcome one of the key issues in the crypto industry, which is largely pseudonymous, making it susceptible to spam bots and scams.