Central Bank Warns Kenyans: Stop Turning Banknotes into Money Bouquets
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has cautioned the public against a rising practice of incorporating genuine Kenya Shilling banknotes into decorative items, particularly cash bouquets, ornamental displays, and similar celebratory creations.
In a press statement released on Monday, February 2, 2026, the CBK acknowledged that while giving money as a gift remains acceptable, any method that involves folding, rolling, stapling, gluing, pinning, or otherwise altering or damaging the notes is prohibited. The bank stressed that currency must stay in pristine, circulatable condition to effectively serve as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value.
CBK highlighted several negative impacts of these practices:
-Damaged notes frequently jam or get rejected by cash-handling machines such as ATMs, counting devices, and sorting equipment.
-This leads to higher processing failure rates and forces the premature retirement and replacement of notes, generating unnecessary expenses for both the public and the central bank.
The regulator urged citizens, florists, event planners, and gift creators to explore damage-free alternatives for presenting monetary gifts, ensuring banknotes remain fit for everyday use.
Legally, such actions fall under Section 367 of the Penal Code (Cap. 63, Laws of Kenya), which criminalizes the willful defacement, mutilation, or impairment of currency notes issued by a recognized authority. Offenders risk facing legal consequences, including potential prosecution.
The warning arrives amid a viral trend of "money bouquets" gaining popularity for occasions like weddings, birthdays, and upcoming Valentine's Day celebrations. Social media and gift vendors have popularized intricate designs where notes are shaped into floral arrangements, but the CBK emphasized that this compromises currency integrity and increases operational costs across the financial system.
The bank reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the quality and longevity of Kenyan currency, calling on everyone to handle notes with care and respect their role in the economy. No immediate enforcement actions were detailed, but the statement serves as a clear reminder that deliberate damage to legal tender constitutes an offence.
