WARNING! Kenya Put On Notice Over Shilling-Notes Decorative Bouquets
You may soon face legal consequences for the widespread romantic gesture of creating a cash bouquet from Kenyan banknotes.
This comes after the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) issued a warning on Monday, February 2, against using Kenyan shilling banknotes for ornamental purposes.
In a news release dated Monday, February 2, 2026, CBK stated that citizens are increasingly using banknotes to construct cash bouquets, attractive displays, and other decorative arrangements, often folding, rolling, glueing, stapling, or pinning them.
“The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has noted a growing trend in the use of Kenya Shilling banknotes for decorative and celebratory purposes, including the preparation of cash flower bouquets, ornamental displays, and similar arrangements,” CBK said in a statement.
According to the monetary authority, these actions harm banknotes and interfere with cash-handling equipment such as automated teller machines (ATMs), cash-counting machines, and sorting systems.
Press Release: Public Notice on the Misuse of Currency Banknotes pic.twitter.com/AqViEuPUZ5
— Central Bank of Kenya (@CBKKenya) February 2, 2026
As a result, there are more rejections during processing and wasteful currency withdrawals and replacements, resulting in avoidable costs for both the public and the bank.
CBK explained that while giving cash as a present is acceptable, it should not involve changing, defacing, or destroying banknotes.
Currency must remain suitable for circulation in order to serve as a medium of trade, unit of account, and store of value.
“While CBK does not object to the use of cash as a gift, such use should not involve any action that alters, damages, or defaces banknotes,” the statement went on.
“Currency should remain in a condition that allows it to circulate freely and perform its intended functions as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value.”
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The bank reminded the public that Section 367 of the Penal Code (Cap. 63, Laws of Kenya) bans the defacement, mutilation, or impairment of currency notes, and warned that anybody who knowingly damages currency issued by an authorized authority will be charged with a Penal Code offence.
CBK urged the public to adopt non-damaging alternatives when presenting monetary gifts and to refrain from actions that compromise the quality of Kenya Shilling notes.
The monetary authority’s warning comes barely a fortnight before Valentine’s Day – a day marked with grand romantic gestures.
In Kenya, Valentine’s Day has evolved in interesting ways, with lovers increasingly opting for grand gestures such as bouquets made from cash instead of traditional flowers.
WARNING! Kenya Put On Notice Over Shilling-Notes Decorative Bouquets
