The move by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to unveil new notes was met with strong opposing force despite the bank notes having security features that will make it easy for the visually impaired to use them with ease.
The bone of contention is the presence of portrait of the first president of Kenya Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. A section of the public has strongly challenged the existence of the portrait saying that its against the spirit of the constitution.
Key security features in new bank notes
These features on the note can be detected in three main ways; feeling it (running a finger through it), looking at it and by tilting the note.
| NOTE | Feel | Look | Tilt |
| 50 |
|
images that symbolise green energy  |
|
| 100 |
|
agriculture-related images |
|
| 200 |
|
bear images of social services |
|
| 500 |
|
tourism images |
|
| 1000 |
|
displays governance images |
|
The governor of the Central Bank of Kenya issued a directive that all old Sh1,000 notes will cease to be legal tender from October 1, 2019.
Guidelines on how old 1000 notes will be returned to Bank
- Persons exchanging currency notes for amounts not exceeding Ksh.1 million of the withdrawn currency notes will exchange at their Commercial banks, CBK Branches and Currency Centres, or any nearest commercial bank.
- Bank customers exchanging currency notes for amounts Ksh.1 million to Ksh.5 million of the withdrawn currency notes will exchange at their respective commercial banks, under the normal procedures and requirements.
- Persons without bank accounts exchanging currency notes for amounts exceeding Ksh.1 million will require an endorsement from CBK.
- Persons exchanging currency notes for amounts exceeding Ksh.5 million (bulk exchange) will require an endorsement from CBK. These persons should get in touch using the contacts shown below.
CBK Contacts for enquiries
For further enquiries on this matter, members of the public are requested to contact CBK by telephone at +254 20 2861032 or +254 20 2863122 or email: newcurrency@centralbank.go.ke