Kenyans Share Mixed Reactions after High Court Bans Worldcoin: "Tuwarudishie Pesa Yao"
- The High Court of Kenya found that Worldcoin used cryptocurrency worth KSh 7,000 to induce consent, rendering it invalid
- The ruling triggered a wave of mixed reactions from Kenyans, with some supporting the decision as a protection of privacy and others criticising it
- Kenya now joins countries like Indonesia, Spain, and Hong Kong, which have suspended Worldcoin operations over concerns regarding data privacy and regulatory compliance
Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has over four years of financial, business, and technology research and reporting experience, providing insights into Kenyan and global trends.
On May 5, 2025, the High Court of Kenya issued a ruling banning Worldcoin's operations, ordering the deletion of biometric data collected from Kenyans.
Source: UGC
This decision was backed by concerns over data privacy and violations of the Constitution.
The High Court ruling sparked a wide array of reactions from Kenyans, reflecting the complex interplay of economic, technological, and regulatory issues in Kenya.
What did High Court decide on Worldcoin?
The court ruled that Worldcoin's collection of iris and facial scans violated constitutional privacy rights, declaring its data practices illegal.
Consequently, the court ordered the deletion of all biometric data collected from Kenyans within seven days under the supervision of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC).
The court found that Worldcoin failed to conduct a mandatory Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and used financial inducements, offering cryptocurrency worth KSh 7,000 to obtain consent, rendering it invalid.
How did Kenyans react to Worldcoin ban?
The reactions from Kenyans highlight a tension between innovation and regulation, with significant implications for Kenya's tech ecosystem.
@chalbisurvivor said:
"Too late,once it's collected,it'll never be disposed,unless you go do it yourself."
@demahomnaj said:
"Even if they deleted it as ordered, they have probably saved it else where. Once collected it is there forever. It should have been nipped in the bud and never allowed to be collected in the first place."
@Georgee0777 said:
"High court waseme pia tuwarudishie pesa yao."
@bencryptoooo said:
"Is the government ... or something? Worldcoin doesn't store any data; it's immediately deleted after the orb has confirmed a person's humanity. How can you delete what you don't have?"
@thee_alfa_house said:
"This is a very good move. Worldcoin took advantage of vulnerable Kenyans and invaded their privacy by getting vital data from them for a few coins."
@kachwanya said:
"Glad that the High Court has declared Worldcoin’s activities in Kenya illegal and ordered the company to delete all the eyeballs data they harvest from Kenyans within 7 days, under supervision of the Data Commissioner."
@Web3flux said:
"Kenya hukua na ... sana. Why are they banning worldcoin na they can't give youths jobs?Worldcoin imekua ikilisha youths vizuri sana the past 1-2 years saa hii wanakazia. Sasa wakijua we are getting free money from running nodes and doing testnets si watakataza laptops zisiuzwe."
Source: Getty Images
Which countries have suspended Worldcoin?
As reported earlier on TUKO.co.ke, Kenya is now among several countries that have banned Worldcoin’s activities due to mounting global scrutiny over its data handling practices.
On the same day, May 5, Indonesian authorities also announced the suspension of Worldcoin operations.
Other nations, such as Spain and Hong Kong, have similarly paused the company's World ID programmes over privacy and regulatory concerns.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
