Central Bank of Kenya Unveils New Banknotes with Enhanced Security Features

In a significant move to enhance the security and authenticity of the nation's currency, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) announced on Wednesday the introduction of new changes to all denominations of banknotes.

Effective immediately, all new banknotes will feature the signatures of the CBK Governor and the National Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo. The year of print on these notes will be updated to 2024, and they will incorporate new security threads with color-changing effects to combat counterfeiting.

These changes will impact all current denominations, including Ksh50, Ksh100, Ksh200, Ksh500, and Ksh1,000. Despite the updates, the banknotes will retain the core features of the series introduced in 2019. Importantly, all banknotes currently in circulation will remain legal tender and will be used alongside the newly issued ones.

"The release of the new banknotes will commence with the Ksh1,000 denomination, followed by other denominations in the coming months," the CBK statement said. The new notes boast several advanced security features, such as a tactile feature allowing users to feel the Kenya name and the note's value. When held up to the light, a watermark of a lion's head, the text CBK, and the value of the banknote will be visible from both sides.

Moreover, the security thread on the new banknotes will appear as a continuous line when held against the light. When tilted, the notes will reveal a color-specific security thread and a golden band indicating the note's value, which is also visible under ultra-violet light.

This move comes at a time when the Kenyan shilling traded at Ksh130.00 against the dollar during the opening of the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday.

These enhancements mark a significant step in safeguarding the integrity of Kenya's currency while ensuring ease of verification for the public. The CBK reassures the public that these measures are designed to maintain confidence in the national currency and to continue supporting the country's economic stability.