The Katiba Institute has welcomed the deletion of data unlawfully collected from Kenyans by Worldcoin, praising the High Court’s supervision and the enforcement role of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC).
In a statement, Katiba said the ruling reaffirms that constitutional rights to privacy, dignity and data protection are non-negotiable.
“No technology, however novel, operates above the law,” the institute noted, adding that the decision reinforces the authority of the Data Protection Act and highlights the importance of independent oversight in holding powerful actors accountable.
The ODPC, established under the Data Protection Act, 2019, oversees how personal data is processed in Kenya.
Its mandate includes ensuring compliance with data protection principles, safeguarding privacy and ensuring data subjects can exercise their rights.
On January 20, 2026, the ODPC confirmed that all biometric data collected from Kenyan citizens by Worldcoin has been deleted.
“The office remains dedicated to enforcing the law, protecting data subjects and ensuring accountability for non-compliance,” the notice read.
The legal process follows a High Court ruling on May 5, 2025, which found Worldcoin guilty of violating Kenya’s data protection laws by collecting biometric data—including iris scans—without prior authorisation, failing to carry out a mandatory Data Protection Impact Assessment and operating without registering as a data processor.
Justice Roselyne Aburili ordered the permanent deletion of all Kenyan biometric data and prohibited further collection unless Worldcoin fully complies with legal requirements.
Worldcoin, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, had sparked controversy in 2023 when hundreds of Kenyans queued at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre to scan their irises in exchange for cryptocurrency tokens.
The platform uses an iris-scanning device, Orb, to create a secure World ID known as IrisCode, designed to verify users while maintaining privacy.
Katiba emphasised that the ruling sends a strong message: consent, legality and human rights must remain central to digital innovation in Kenya.
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