Kenya’s government remains steadfast in its decision to suspend the WorldCoin cryptocurrency project despite pressure from the United States to reverse the suspension. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki confirmed the US government’s lobbying efforts during a parliamentary session. The suspension, initiated in August 2023, was due to concerns over data privacy, particularly the collection of Kenyan citizens’ iris scans by WorldCoin. Kindiki reiterated the government’s firm stance, stating that they will not review the suspension and will continue to enforce it.

This determination comes amid considerations by the National Assembly’s Committee on Public Petitions regarding a public petition to ban the Chinese messaging platform TikTok. The government is exploring options for potential limitations on TikTok’s operations, similar to measures taken with WorldCoin. The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) had previously warned about potential fraudulent schemes involving cryptocurrencies, emphasizing that WorldCoin lacked regulatory approval in Kenya. Additionally, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) issued an advisory cautioning Kenyans to be vigilant about sharing sensitive data, especially in relation to the WorldCoin project.