Kenya’s Currency Gets a Security Upgrade: Four Key Changes Announced
In a significant move to enhance the security and functionality of Kenya’s currency, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) on Wednesday announced the introduction of four major changes to all banknotes.
This update, aimed at bolstering the security features and reflecting contemporary advancements, will affect all denominations from Ksh50 to Ksh1,000.
In an official statement, CBK highlighted that henceforth, all new banknotes will bear the signatures of the CBK Governor, Kamau Thugge, and the National Treasury Principal Secretary, Chris Kiptoo.
This dual-signature approach aims to ensure greater accountability and traceability in Kenya’s financial system. Additionally, the year of print on the notes will be updated to 2024, signifying the latest batch of currency issuance.
A notable enhancement is the incorporation of new security threads with color-changing effects, which will make the notes significantly harder to counterfeit. These threads, embedded within the paper, will display different colors when viewed from various angles, a feature that can be easily verified by both the public and financial institutions.
“The rest of the features remain the same as those of the series issued in 2019,” the CBK statement read. This means the familiar designs and imagery will be retained, ensuring a smooth transition for users.
To reassure the public, CBK clarified that all banknotes currently in circulation will remain legal tender and will coexist with the new notes. The phased rollout will commence with the Ksh1,000 denomination, followed by other denominations in the subsequent months.
The updated notes will retain several tactile features, beneficial for visually impaired users. “A user can feel the Kenya name as well as the money value of the note (such as the number 1000) while touching the note,” explained CBK.
Moreover, when held to the light, the notes will reveal a watermark of a perfect lion’s head, along with the text ‘CBK’ and the respective value of the note, visible from both sides. The security thread will also appear as a continuous line under light, further ensuring the note’s authenticity.
These changes underscore CBK’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of Kenya’s currency while embracing advanced security features to protect against counterfeiting. As the new notes enter circulation, they will offer enhanced security and a fresh look, while still honoring the traditional designs that Kenyans recognize.
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Kenya’s Currency Gets a Security Upgrade: Four Key Changes Announced
