Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma is among a team of 15 lawmakers picked to probe WorldCoin's activities in Kenya as fresh concerns arise from the global tech firm.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula gave the team, which is led by Gabriel Tongoyo (Narok West MP), 42 days to table its findings.
The team is expected to engage with other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) during the duration of the probe and determine whether WorldCoin's activities were unlawful.
The 15 members were drawn from the Departmental Committees on; Administration and Internal Security, Communication, Information and Innovation (ICT), and Tourism and Wildlife.
They include Mburu Kahangara (Lari), Caroline Ng'elechei (Elgeyo Marakwet), and Sara Korere (Laikipia North) who are members of the Administration Committee.
John Kiarie (Dagoretti South), Geoffrey Wandeto (Tetu), Gideon Kimaiyo (Keiyo South), Shakeel Shabbir (Kisumu East), and nominated MP Irene Mayaka were drawn from the Communication, Information and Innovation Committee.
The Committee on Tourism and Wildlife fronted Kareke Mbiuki (Maara), Geoffrey Ruku (Mbeere North), Edwin Gichuki (Mathioya), Ruweida Obo (Lamu East), and Innocent Maino Mugabe (Likuyani).
“I want to inform you that each of the three Committees has nominated five Members from their respective memberships,” announced Wetangula.
“Let me remind the Committee of the urgency to conduct this inquiry promptly and deliver a report to the House by Thursday, September 28, 2023."
Kaluma was among vocal MPs who expressed his opinion after the company's data collection activities in the country were questioned.
"If this is a foreign company, was it registered properly? If not, there are consequences which should be applied as prescribed in law," the MP demanded.
Fresh Concerns
After its activities were suspended in Kenya, a number of users complained that they were unable to withdraw their free cryptocurrency coins which they received in exchange of allowing the tech firm to scan their iris.
Last week, the company's systems were down returning an error message to the users and asking them to try again later.
Kenyans.co.ke earlier reported that after Interior CS Kithure Kindiki suspended the company's operations, the company's valuation plummeted by 70%.
Global industry observers have explained that investors are now steering clear of WorldCoin due to its data collection and storage practices.
The company was ordered to halt operations after the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), in April 2022, declared its practices unacceptable.
At the time, thousands of Kenyans had queued for their iris to be scanned in exchange for a Ksh7,000 token.
