Kenyatta image on new Ksh.1K notes sparks controversy

The front of the new Ksh.1000 bank notes bear the image of Kenyatta International Conference Centre, a move that has sparked controversy.

Critics claim the inclusion of the country’s founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta image breaches the law.

Lawyer Otiende Amollo said: “Have seen the new notes unveiled. I’m personally persuaded they’re contrary to A. 231(4) of the Constitution, to the extent that they bear the image and portrait of the founding President. Are we short of images that depict Kenya? Thumbs down on this!”

According to the Constitution, new generation notes and coins issued from the Central Bank of Kenya may bear images that depict or symbolise Kenya or an aspect of Kenya but should not bear the image of any individual.

However, behind the new Ksh.1000 note unveiled on Saturday during the national Madaraka Day celebrations is an image of founding President Jomo Kenyatta.

“The KICC and the statue of the founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta on the current Kshs 100 notes – now to be on all notes. Would the statue be taken to mean “the portrait of an individual” as per Article 231 (4) of the constitution? one Peter Mwai posed on Twitter.

“Is using the statue of Jomo Kenyatta on the notes even legal? The constitution is pretty clear on bearing the portrait of any individual,” one Kenne Mwikya posed.

The new notes that will circulate alongside the current notes, with images of the 5 famous wild animals in Kenya that are a major tourist attraction.

The Ksh.1,000 note bears the image of an elephant and Parliament buildings to portray the governance theme while the Ksh.500 note will carry the tourism theme and bear the image of a lion.

The social services theme will be portrayed in the Ksh.200 note and will bear the image of a rhino. The Ksh.100 note will bear the image of a leopard to carry the agriculture theme.

A buffalo will be used to mark the Ksh. 50 note and carry the green energy theme.

“The new currencies will have better security features, making it difficult to reproduce them…they will also be friendly to visually impaired people,” CBK Governor Patrick Njoroge said on Saturday.