Kenyans ‘sell’ eyeballs for Sh7,000 despite w*rnings

Thousands of Kenyans defied a warning by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner to turn up at KICC grounds and Quickmart outlets for a chance to earn Worldcoin Cryptocurrency tokens.

In return, they willingly eyed an orb and had their eye biometrics scanned. The mostly youthful Kenyans scanned their eyeballs in exchange for Sh7,000 and signed up for the Worldcoin cryptocurrency in what has become an internet buzz this week in Nairobi.

Police yesterday dispersed people who had lined up at KICC, citing security concerns as the main reason for stopping the process which has been going on for days.

Many Kenyans threw caution to the wind and lined up for the “free money” which has been provided by the founders of Worldcoin.

Users of Worldcoin, which went live on July 24, receive free tokens known as WLD, for proving humanity by having their eyes scanned by devices placed in specific locations across about 35 nations worldwide.
The currency is led by US-based techpreneur Sam Altman who is also the CEO of the popular Open AI that created ChatGPT.

Those who receive the tokens may transfer them to recognised cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance and use them to purchase other cryptocurrencies, which can then be withdrawn via liquidity providers on those platforms or sold to other users, generating cash.
“I do not know what Worldcoin is but I have been told there is money,” said one woman who was cueing to have her eyeball scanned.

The value of each Worldcoin token at the end of the first day of introduction was $2.1 (Sh299).
Everybody who scans their iris on a Worldcoin shiny orb receives 25 Worldcoin tokens, which are worth around $54 (Sh7,700). According to data from data analytics service Take Profit, low-wage workers in Kenya typically make about Sh15,000 per month before taxes.

The concept was to create a digital currency that would be more inclusive and accessible to people worldwide, regardless of their socioeconomic status or access to traditional banking systems.
But the Office of Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has cautioned against the exercise, citing safety concerns.

“The ODPC is aware that Worldcoin has now been launched and is processing sensitive personal data in a manner that requires a demonstration of proper safeguards under the Data Protection Act, 2019,” reads the statement.

“As the ODPC conducts its assessment of Worldcoin’s practices to ensure compliance with the law, Kenyans are urged to ensure that they receive proper information before disclosing any personal or sensitive data. Individuals are advised to thoroughly inquire about how their data will be used.”
Worldcoin says over 2,106,468 people from 34 countries have enrolled.

According to the ODPC, evaluations are being done to determine whether processing of personal data complies with the Data Protection Act.

An estimated four per cent of Kenyans have cryptocurrencies which is one of the highest in the world.
Tony Omondi, an operation supervisor at Worldcoin explained the process Kenyans went through to get verified saying once a person went through the registration, they earned 25 world coins which were quickly converted to Kenya shillings as Consolata Wangui from Rongai did.

“I heard about it from my brother and I asked my sister that we come and see for ourselves,” said 26-year-old Wangui.
“I got scanned and got the 25 dollars sic (World Coin) which I sold and it came to my M-Pesa.”

And outside KICC stood people holding placards that read “Buying World Coins” ready to buy the tokens. Nelson Njeri from Ruaka was buying tokens.

“In February I went to Two Rivers and found World Coin people. I registered and answered some ten questions. I earned $2 per question. Then I forgot about it, but I heard they came back and that is why I came here. I am buying tokens at Sh250 from those who have just registered and selling them on Binance.”

World Coin officials at KICC grounds maintained that no data was stored after the verification process but a report from MIT technological review had noted that had been done early on in the year when Worldcoin started the verification process noted:

“Central to Worldcoin’s distribution was the high-tech orb itself, armed with advanced cameras and sensors that not only scanned irises but took high-resolution images of “users’ body, face, and eyes, including users’ irises,” according to the company’s descriptions in a blog post.