Editor's Review

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has made four changes to the Kenyan currency banknotes.

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has made four changes to the Kenyan currency banknotes.

In a statement on Wednesday, August 7, CBK noted that all notes will bear the signature of CBK Governor Dr. Kamau Thugge as well as the signature of National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo.

The notes will also bear the year of print which the bank stated is 2024 and they'll also have new security threads with colour-changing effects.

"The changes will affect the fifty shillings (KES 50), one hundred shillings (KES 100), two hundred shillings (KES 200), five hundred shillings (KES 500) and one thousand shillings (KES 1000) currency banknotes," CBK stated.

However, the bank noted that the rest of the features will remain the same and that the new banknotes will circulate alongside the older version banknotes currently in circulation. 

An illustration of the changes to the Kenyan currency banknotes.

"The rest of the features remain the same as those of the series issued in 2019. All banknotes currently in circulation remain legal tender and will circulate alongside the released banknotes," the bank stated.

CBK further intimated that the release of the new banknotes will commence with the Sh1,000 while other notes will follow subsequently.

"Release of banknotes will commence with KES 1,000 while other denominations will progressively follow in the coming months. Details of the banknotes are available at the bank's website https://www.centralbank.go.ke/," CBK stated.