CBK Warns of Legal Action Over Defaced Banknotes

Romantic gestures involving flashy cash bouquets could soon attract legal consequences, after the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) issued a firm warning against the decorative use of Kenyan banknotes.

In a press release dated Monday, February 2, 2026, the monetary authority raised concern over what it described as a growing trend in which members of the public fold, pin, staple, glue or roll banknotes into ornamental displays, often shared widely on social media during celebrations.

“The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has noted a growing trend in the use of Kenya Shilling banknotes for decorative and celebratory purposes,” the bank said, specifically citing cash flower bouquets and similar arrangements.

While such displays are often intended as romantic or celebratory gestures, CBK warned that they come with serious economic and operational consequences. According to the bank, altering banknotes damages their physical integrity and disrupts the smooth operation of cash-handling infrastructure, including ATMs, cash-counting machines, and currency sorting equipment.

“These actions result in higher rejection rates during processing,” CBK noted, adding that damaged notes are withdrawn from circulation earlier than necessary. This leads to avoidable replacement costs, which ultimately burden both the public and the banking system.

The regulator was keen to draw a line between acceptable gifting and unlawful handling of currency. While giving cash as a present remains legal, CBK emphasized that it must be done without defacing or damaging the notes.

“Currency must remain fit for circulation to perform its intended functions as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, and a store of value,” the statement read.

The warning signals tighter scrutiny as CBK seeks to protect the integrity of the Kenyan shilling amid rising creative, but risky, uses of cash. As viral trends blur the line between celebration and currency misuse, the regulator’s message is clear: romance should not come at the expense of the law or the lifespan of the nation’s money.