Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki disclosed on Thursday, March 21, that the United States government was exerting pressure on Kenya to permit the activities of Worldcoin billionaire Alex Blania.
Kindiki made the announcement while addressing the National Assembly Petitions Committee regarding a petition submitted by Bob Ndolo concerning the prohibition of TikTok in Kenya. He stated that despite pressure from the US, the administration of President William Ruto had remained steadfast in its decision.
Speaking before the Parliamentary committee, Kindiki emphasized that Kenya would uphold the ban on Worldcoin, which was implemented in August 2023.
“The American government is advocating for the Kenyan government to address the Worldcoin issue, but we have stood firm because we prioritize public safety and interests,” he informed the MPs. “Although they believe they have a valid argument, we have refused to yield. Our stance remains unchanged, and we see no reason to reconsider it.”
Kenya had prohibited the cryptocurrency project due to concerns raised by the national government regarding privacy. Criticism arose over the requirement for individuals to scan their eyeballs during registration on the platform, which offered free crypto tokens.
According to Kindiki, the United States Senate also expressed apprehensions about Worldcoin’s operations but refrained from taking decisive actions akin to those of the Kenyan government.
“While there was a negative report from the US Senate, Worldcoin was not explicitly banned,” Kindiki informed the MPs, highlighting that the Senate inquiry had identified certain risk factors associated with Worldcoin.
In September 2023, billionaire Alex Blania appeared before the National Assembly Ad Hoc Committee to address concerns raised by various Kenyan stakeholders, including members of the public.
He disputed allegations that the iris scanning conducted by the Worldcoin Orb resulted in medical complications. “Worldcoin is manufactured in Germany, which adheres to stringent certification standards,” the billionaire defended the Orb.
