Worldcoin, the eye-scan blockchain firm, has deleted all iris scan data collected from Kenyans, ending a legal battle that began in 2023, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) confirmed. The company, operated locally by Tools for Humanity, had used metallic “Orb” devices to scan irises in exchange for 25 WLD tokens, worth roughly Sh8,000 each. In a May 2025 ruling, the High Court found the collection of biometric data unlawful, citing a lack of proper privacy assessments and concerns over coerced consent. The court ordered that the data be permanently deleted under the supervision of the ODPC. On…
Author: Samuel Njihia
A High Court ruling in Siaya has confirmed that WhatsApp chats and SMS messages can amount to binding contracts, warning businesses and individuals that informal digital exchanges may carry legal force. The decision arose from a small claims appeal between Fredrick Ochiel and Kennedy Okoth over the lease of an ultrasound machine. The court dismissed the appeal and upheld an award of Sh145,000 in favour of Mr Okoth, finding that text messages captured a valid agreement. According to the record, Mr Okoth said the two orally agreed in September 2024 that Mr Ochiel would lease the machine at Sh1,000 per…
Thousands of lawyers are waiting to learn the fate of their work with public entities after the High Court on Tuesday upheld an order stopping government bodies from hiring private law firms. More than 18,000 advocates will now wait until at least Friday to find out whether they can continue acting for public institutions. Justice Samwel Mooch declined to lift his January 12 directive barring all public entities from outsourcing legal services. The decision has sparked strong resistance from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). Over 100 lawyers, led by LSK President Faith Odhiambo, attended a virtual hearing to challenge…
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final erupted into controversy in the extra minutes when Senegal briefly walked off the pitch after a late penalty was awarded against them. Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, did not hold back in his criticism, calling the incident “shameful.” Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala pointed to the spot following a VAR review of Malick Diouf’s challenge on Brahim Diaz. Senegal, already frustrated after seeing a goal disallowed, reacted dramatically. “The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful,” Regragui said. “A coach who asks his players to leave the field…what Pape did does not honour Africa. Thiaw…
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pleaded with President Donald Trump to delay any potential US military action against Iran, a senior US official confirmed on Thursday. The appeal comes as Iran faces widespread protests that have shaken the country since late December. Netanyahu spoke to Trump on Wednesday, the same day the US president suggested he had received reports from “very important sources” that Iran had paused executions and halted killings of protesters. The remark hinted that Trump may be reconsidering a strike, which he has been weighing in recent days. A senior US official emphasised that the president…
A political showdown is brewing in Isiolo South as the children of the late MP Mohamed Tubi Bidu prepare to contest the seat he held until his death in November last year. The by-election, scheduled for February 26, 2026, will see siblings competing on rival party tickets, setting the stage for a contest that combines clan dynamics and national political rivalries. Tubi Mohamed Tubi will run on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, while his sister, Bina Mohamed Tubi, will represent the Jubilee Party. The late MP was elected under Jubilee in 2022, and his passing triggered the by-election. Jubilee…
Several businesses linked to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi were demolished on Tuesday night along Douglas Wakiihuru Road, near Nyayo Stadium, leaving behind a trail of heavy losses and devastation. According to eyewitnesses, several excavators and bulldozers, accompanied by heavily armed police officers, brought down two semi-permanent structures and damaged vehicles and other property. Debris and ruins were still visible early Wednesday, as affected business owners assessed their losses. Police reportedly used live bullets and tear gas to control the scene and intimidate those present. Governor Wamatangi, through his company Superclean Shine Enterprises, has moved to court, claiming that the property…
Ugandans were left without public internet access on Tuesday night after authorities ordered a nationwide shutdown days before voters head to the polls in a deeply polarised presidential election. The blackout began at 6 pm local time after the Uganda Communications Commission directed telecom firms to suspend internet services. In its letter to operators, the regulator said the measure was aimed at preventing “misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks” during what it described as a sensitive period. “The UCC acknowledges the operational challenges this directive may impose and appreciates your full cooperation in upholding national stability during this sensitive…
US President Donald Trump has threatened countries doing business with Iran with a 25 per cent tariff on trade with America, following deadly anti-government protests that have left over 600 people dead. The threat, which was offered with little detail, comes days after The New York Times reported that President Trump had been briefed on new options for military strikes against Iran, citing anonymous US officials. In response to the threat, China, Iran’s largest trading partner, said it “will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests”. Deadly protests erupted in Tehran, the Iranian capital, on December…
Dozens of teachers have been left outraged after allegedly paying large sums to secure positions at the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), amid accusations of a bribery network within the agency. According to media reports, the affected teachers are the latest victims of a recruitment cartel operating from TSC headquarters in Nairobi, with county-level officers allegedly acting as intermediaries. Some of the victims, who are still holding appointment letters despite paying hefty bribes, staged protests last week in Bomet, Nairobi, and Machakos counties, demanding accountability. They claim they were asked to pay bribes in return for employment, which has yet to…
