Kenyatta's Image on Newly Unveiled Kenyan Currency Notes Sparks Online Debate

An image of founding President Jomo Kenyatta on the newly unveiled Kenyan banknotes has sparked an online debate among Kenyans.

The front of the new Sh1000 and Sh500 notes bear the image of the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).

A section of social media users claim the new banknotes breach the constitution since they bear the image of Kenyatta, whose statue is erected outside the KICC.

Rarieda MP and lawyer Otiende Amollo said: “Have seen the new notes unveiled. I’m personally persuaded they’re contrary to A. 231(4) of the Constitution, to the extent that they bear the image and portrait of the founding President. Are we short of images that depict Kenya? Thumbs down on this!”

The 2010 Constitution states that the new generation notes and coins may bear images that depict or symbolize Kenya or an aspect of Kenya but should not bear the image of any individual.

Peter Mwai posed: “The KICC and the statue of the founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta on the current Kshs 1000 notes – now to be on all notes. Would the statue be taken to mean “the portrait of an individual” as per Article 231 (4) of the constitution?"

Kenne Mwikya asked:" “Is using the statue of Jomo Kenyatta on the notes even legal? The constitution is pretty clear on bearing the portrait of any individual." 

The new currency notes were launched during Madaraka Day Celebrations at Narok Stadium on Saturday.

The Sh1,000 note bears the image of an elephant and Parliament buildings to portray the governance theme while the Sh500 note will carry the tourism theme and bear the image of a lion.

The Sh200 note will carry the theme of the social service and bears the image of a rhino while Sh100 note bears the image of a leopard to carry the agriculture theme.

A buffalo will be used to mark the Sh50 note and carry the green energy theme.

“The new currencies will have better security features, making it difficult to reproduce them…they will also be friendly to visually impaired people,” CBK Governor Patrick Njoroge said.

Njoroge said old the Sh1000 notes will cease to be legal tender as from October 1st,  2019.

Njoroge further asserted that the unveiling of the new notes is intended to curb fraud.

“All the older Ksh.1000 series shall be withdrawn. All persons have until October 1, 2019, to exchange these notes, after which the older ones will cease to be legal tender,” said Njoroge.

In November last year, President Uhuru launched new-look currency coins that conform with the 2010 constitutional requirements.

The new coins, which came in units of one shilling, five shilling, 10 shilling, and 20 shillings, contain special features that make them accessible to people with visual challenges including the blind.

The new coins bear the image of giraffe (Sh1), rhino (Sh5), lion (Sh10) while the 20 shilling coin has the image of an elephant. Sh1 is silver in color and weighs 5.5g, while Sh5, Sh10 and Sh20 weigh 3.75g, 5g, and 9g respectively.