"I was skeptical at first," students narrate Worldcoin registration experience

Some students whose irises were scanned appear before the Ad Hoc Committee of inquiry on the Worldcoin controversy. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

A section of students whose irises were scanned by a cryptocurrency project, Worldcoin, have continued to narrate their ordeal before the Ad Hoc Committee of Inquiry into the controversy.

Among the students is Bruce Bogita Minyega, a law student, who explained the ridicule he suffered from his peers after he confessed to being among those whose irises were scanned.

"Every time I think of Worldcoin, I experience hallucinations...my peers are now making a mockery of us. Online memes and Tiktok videos making fun of the whole situation have adversely affected me," he told the committee members sitting at the Mini chambers in Nairobi.

According to Bogita, Worldcoin seems to have been targeting tech-savvy Kenyans and well-populated avenues like universities and shopping malls.

Bogita knew about Worldcoin at QuickMart in Kilimani area, Nairobi when a gentleman approached him just as he exited the supermarket. The man asked if he would like to make Sh7,000 just by scanning his iris.

He revealed he was hesitant at first but the thought of the Sh7,000 made him change his mind and dared to take the challenge. Bogita asked where the money was coming from but he was told it was a Worldcoin grant.

'I was skeptical at first but when he mentioned the token, I quickly accepted, the queue was not long so I did the iris scan, then I downloaded the App, and the cryptocurrency was sent to my now new app on my phone," he explained.

Other students who appeared before the committee were; Miruoba Marube Mogusu, a Kenyatta University student, and Ochieng Benard Michael Ayoo, a Technical University student who gave a blow-by-blow account of how they came to know about Worldcoin activities.

The confession comes a month after the Government suspended the registration of Worldcoin, pending an assessment of its risks.

In a statement released on Wednesday, August 2, the Ministry of Interior said it is suspending all activities until concerned government agencies ascertain that the app is free of any risks.

"The Government has suspended forthwith activities of 'Worldcoin' and any other entity that may be similarly engaging Kenyans until relevant public agencies certify the absence of any risks to the general public whatsoever," said Interior CS Kindiki Kithure.