The Central Bank of Kenya has announced that it has conducted major updates on the denominations of the Kenyan currency banknotes in line with the constitution.
In a press release by the national bank on Wednesday, August 7, the new notes will come with at least four new changes in them.
“The Bank has made some changes to the denominations one hundred shillings (Sh100), two hundred shillings (Sh200), five hundred shillings (Sh500) and one thousand shillings (Sh1,000) currency banknotes,” CBK said in the statement.
The changes made include a new signature for the Governor, which will be that of current CBK boss Kamau Thugge, as well as that of the Member of the Board, who will now be Treasury Principal Secretary Dr Chris Kiptoo.
The other changes will be the year of print, 2024, and a new security thread with colour changes to each denomination.
In the announcement, CBK stated that the rest of the features will remain the same and the updated notes will be in circulation together with the current ones.
“The rest of the features remain the same as those of the series issued in 2019.
“Release of the banknotes will commence with Sh1,000, while other denominations will progressively follow in the coming months,” the statement concluded.
The CBK also provided guidance on recognizing genuine notes, highlighting distinctive features that can be identified through sight or touch. These include the texture of the Kenyan name and the note’s denomination (such as the number 1000 on a Kshs 1000 note) that can be felt when handling the note.
When viewed in the light, the new note reveals a clear lion’s head watermark, the text CBK, and the banknote’s value visible from both sides.
The security thread becomes visible as a continuous line when the note is held up to the light.
Tilting the new notes at an angle reveals a security thread with a color unique to each denomination, as well as a golden band displaying the banknote’s value, which is visible under ultraviolet light.
