The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has announced changes to the country’s currency notes to enhance security features and comply with constitutional requirements. The new banknotes, which will circulate alongside the existing ones, will feature updates to the Ksh50, Ksh100, Ksh200, Ksh500, and Ksh1000 denominations.
Key Changes:
- Signatures: The banknotes will bear the signatures of the current Central Bank Governor, Dr. Kamau Thugge, and the Principal Secretary for the National Treasury, Dr. Chris Kiptoo.
- Year of Print: The year “2024” will be included on the notes.
- Enhanced Security: New security threads with color-changing effects will be added to each denomination.
The CBK emphasized that the core design of the banknotes remains unchanged from the 2019 series. The new Ksh1000 notes will be released first, followed by other denominations in the coming months.
To authenticate the new banknotes, the public is advised to:
- Feel: The notes should have a distinct texture with clearly defined edges and text.
- Look: Hold the note up to light to see the watermark of a lion’s head, the CBK text, and the banknote value.
- Tilt: The security thread should appear as a continuous line that changes color when tilted.
The CBK has assured the public that the current banknotes remain legal tender and will continue to circulate alongside the new ones. These changes are in line with the Central Bank of Kenya Act, which mandates regular updates to currency design