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Worldcoin’s Kenyan Adventure Comes to an Abrupt Halt
Over 350,000 Kenyans had signed up for Worldcoin, a new cryptocurrency by American AI company OpenAI, before the government suspended its operations in the country after Kenyans and experts raised concern over the cryptocurrency’s legality and the safety of the data collected from its subscribers.
Until its ban on Wednesday August 2, the project had attracted thousands of Kenyans to shopping malls and other outlets to register. To register for Worldcoin, people were required to scan their eyeballs through an orb in exchange for a digital identity called World ID. New members also received 25 free cryptocurrency tokens known as WLD.
The uptake of Worldcoin had surged so high that the registration exercise at the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) had to be stopped on Tuesday afternoon due to security concerns. Long queues leading to KICC were witnessed on Tuesday, reaching as far as City Hall.
Despite the frenzy and craze around the Worldcoin the Office of Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) had warned the public to be careful when signing up for the project and warned against rushing to sign up amid data privacy concerns.
The ODPC said her office is conducting an assessment of Worldcoin’s practices to ensure compliance with the law. The project by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been heavily criticized over privacy concerns. Still, the company’s website says the project is “completely private” and that data is deleted or a user can opt to have it stored in encrypted form.
However after the national parliament weighed in on the matter, the government revealed on Thursday that the cryptocurrency project was not a legally registered entity in the country. The State made the disclosure in response to queries raised by Manyatta Member of Parliament John Mukunji on the floor of the House on Wednesday.
According to the government, the foreign company had outsourced its data capture services to a local company identified as Sense Marketing, which was responsible for collecting iris data from Kenyans in return for cryptocurrency tokens worth around Ksh.7,000.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested two Worldcoin company officials in Kenya, Emmanuel Otieno and Rael Mwende, who are now helping with investigations into its structure and operations.
“Among the foreign nationals associated with Worldcoin, were a Mr. Poitr Piwowarczyk who was on record to have entered Kenya on several occasions, the last one being in June 2023,” read the joint statement by Interior CS Kithure Kindiki and his ICT counterpart Eliud Owalo.
“Criminal investigations had commenced to establish the authenticity and legality of the aforesaid activities, the safety and protection of the data being harvested, and how the harvesters intended to use the data,” the statement added.
Furthermore, tha joint statement noted that the Immigration authorities had been directed to ensure that no persons whether Kenyan or foreign nationals associated with this entity left Kenya without the clearance of the Director of Criminal Investigations who was in charge of the ongoing investigations.
The State added that the probe would extend even to individuals involved but based outside the country through international procedures stipulated in the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) protocol.
Kenya Gets its First Virtual University
President William Ruto on Thursday appointed Equity CEO James Mwangi as the Chancellor of the Open University of Kenya (OUK), the first virtual public University in Kenya at Konza Technopolis in Machakos County.
President William Ruto said his administration is keen on offering competitive and industry-driven education, aligned with the Government’s economic transformation agenda. He noted that the objective is to deliver a 100 per cent transition to higher education.
The Head of State was speaking on Thursday in Konza during the awarding of Charter to the Open University of Kenya. He explained that the launch of the institution will enhance public university capacity.
“It will also build a formidable stock of qualified and skilled graduates for our market and beyond,” he observed.
He said the University offers a chance for ordinary Kenyans to pursue professional training of their choice wherever they are.
“This will endow enterprises with a sustainable capacity to be innovative and competitive,” he added.
The President said the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) will incorporate the Open University of Kenya into its portal in time to enroll students for the academic year commencing September. Among the courses that will be offered by the virtual university are Bachelor of Cyber Security and Digital Forensics, Bachelor of Data Science, Bachelor of Technology Education, Bachelor of Science in Business and Entrepreneurship and Statistics and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Food Systems.
“The University also offers postgraduate diplomas in Leadership and Accountability as well as Learning Design and Technology. I have been assured that in coming years, master’s and doctorate programmes will be introduced,” President Ruto said Thursday.
Six Chinese Nationals Charged with Unauthorized Mining in Kenya
Six Chinese nationals were arraigned in court on Tuesday for allegedly engaging in mining activities in Kitigu area, Vihiga County, without a license.
The six suspects, one woman and five men, were identified as Zhang Yongzhon, Lu Qing, Liu Rui, Qui Xiamping, Yao Youpeng, and Wang Yongbin. They were arrested last week and charged with unauthorized mining activities, failing to apply for registration of personal identification, being unlawfully present in Kenya, and working in the country without valid work permits.
Chief Magistrate Samson Ongeri released two of the suspects on bail of Ksh.1 million each, or with two Kenyan citizens standing as sureties each worth Ksh.2 million. The other four suspects will remain in custody due to concerns regarding their travel documents.
The case will be heard again on August 16.
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