Kenya defies US pressure, maintains Worldcoin suspension
A Kenyan government minister said the country has encountered pressure from the U.S. government to lift its suspension on Worldcoin’s activities.
According to local media outlet Business Daily Africa, Cabinet Secretary of Interior and Administration of National Government, Kithure Kindiki, told parliament that the government will not lift the suspension it imposed in August 2023 on the activities of Worldcoin.
Kenya’s Interior secretary said the country rejected a request from the United States government to revoke its suspension of operations for the cryptocurrency project Worldcoin.
According to local media outlet Business Daily Africa, Cabinet Secretary of Interior and Administration of National Government, Kithure Kindiki, told parliament that the government will not lift the suspension it imposed in August 2023 on the activities of Worldcoin.
Kindiki said the suspension would remain in effect until assurances of the safety and integrity of financial deals are provided.
Speaking to the National Assembly’s Public Petitions Committee, Kindiki revealed that Kenya has encountered pressure from the U.S. government to remove the suspension on Worldcoin’s activities.
On Aug. 2, 2023, Kindiki announced the suspension of Worldcoin’s activities until relevant public agencies certify the absence of risks to Kenyans.
The cabinet secretary stressed that the government of Kenya is specifically concerned with Worldcoin collecting crucial identification information like iris scans in exchange for a digital ID.
Nearly three weeks after the suspension of Worldcoin, the Kenyan government formed a 15-member parliamentary committee headed by Gabriel Tongoyo, a member of parliament, to look into the controversial crypto project.
