Mark of the beast? Iris data controversy blamed for low turnout in voter registration drive

IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon and Governor Ole Lenku during a voter registration exercise in Kajiado County. [IEBC, X]

The collection of iris data in the ongoing voter registration has sparked controversy, amid reports that young Kenyans could be keeping off the registration because they are uncertain about the safety of the storage of this data.

On social media, conspiracy theories abound. A user on TikTok has equated the collection of iris data to the 'mark of the beast,' a reference to the Biblical belief of a mark that followers of the antichrist will bear.