Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has said Kenyans who underwent iris scans by Worldcoin company may experience future health complications.
The CS told the National Assembly Ad hoc Committee of Inquiry into the activities of Worldcoin that preliminary analyses of the nature of these scans show that hundreds of thousands of Kenyans may have been exposed to multiple health risks following the scanning of their irises.
Moreover, CS Nakhumicha informed the committee that there may be Kenyans already experiencing changes in their bodies because of the levels of exposure.
“As indicated by Hon Shakeel Shabir, there may be Kenyans out there already experiencing different complications or changes in their bodies after underdoing the scan. We would like to urge them to report to the nearest health facilities to undergo in-depth examination.
Nonetheless, CS Nakhumicha noted that her ministry has prepared a draft Digital Health Bill to look into the potential challenges caused by activities arising from the changing dynamics of the fast-evolving digital space.
Also Read: Kindiki Exposes Kenyans Behind Worldcoin
Worldcoin is not Registered as a Company in Kenya
Likewise, Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya Ezra Chiloba told the legislators Worldcoin has never been registered as a Company in Kenya.
As such, Chiloba reported that all operations conducted by the foreign company in Kenya are illegal and should remain suspended.
“By our standards as CAK, the orb (the scanning machine) that Worldcoin uses can transmit data abroad, making it a communication device yet the CAK has not given any approval for the machine to be used in Kenya,” stated Chiloba.
He further told the Gabriel Tongoyo-led committee that CAK is unaware of how worldcoin attained any approvals to use these machines in the country.
Also Read: Govt Suspends Worldcoin Operations in Kenya
KICC on the spot
Furthermore, the management of KICC admitted to not conducting due diligence regarding the nature of activities by worldcoin before leasing the grounds to Exp Momentum; the company that sought the premises on behalf of the controversial firm.
According to the documents tabled before the Committee, KICC indicated that they leased the grounds at a questionable price of Ksh441,180 within a day of request for space a process which the legislators termed as flawed due to the speed within which the request was approved.
The government on August 17 suspended operations of Worldcoin after it emerged that Kenyans were lining up in the streets to scan their eyeballs for Ksh.7,000.
The Ministry of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki while suspending the operations warned that anyone aiding, abetting or engaging in activities with World Coin would face the law.
