200 shillings (US$2.65), 17th JUNE 2009. Like Pick 43, but new date.


500 shillings (US$6.55), 17th JUNE 2009. Like Pick 44, but new date.

Courtesy of John Silver.

Tags: Kenya

According to a Daily Nation article dated 18 November 2009, Kenya’s coins and notes will not bear the portrait of any individual if the proposals in the new draft constitution of Kenya are adopted. The draft proposes "Notes and coins issued by the Central Bank of Kenya may bear images that depict or symbolise Kenya or an aspect of Kenya but may bear the portrait of any individual." This means that former presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi will be the only personalities to have had portraits on Kenya’s currency.

Kenyans have a month to make their contributions on what they think of the proposals before changes are made to the draft constitution. A referendum is scheduled for early March 2010. If the referendum agrees to adopt the constitution, it will see the Central Bank governor hold office for a term of six years instead of the current four years, and will no longer be eligible for re-appointment.

Courtesy of Aidan Work.

Tags: Kenya

Does anyone know the significance of the roses which made their first appearance on Pick 19? I suspect it may be the symbol of the political party of President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, but would like to know for certain.



Can someone please identify the building on the back of Pick 24? Given the diploma and students in the vignette, it’s almost certainly a university, but which one?



Please post a comment or send me an email if you can positively identify any of these objects/buildings above. Educated guesses are welcome, but I am looking for definitive answers supported by citations if possible.

Tags: Kenya

New 50-, 100-, 200-, 500- and 1,000-shilingi notes dated 3rd MARCH 2008 have been confirmed.

On 4 March 2007, Prof. Njuguna S. Ndung’u assumed the role of governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, and it is his signature which appears on these new notes.

Courtesy of John Silver.

Tags: Kenya

The Central Bank of Kenya has issued all denominations with dates of 1st APRIL 2006 and bearing the signature of the bank’s former governor, Andrew K. Mullei.

On March 4, 2007, Prof. Njuguna S. Ndung’j assumed the role of governor, so expect new signature varieties to surface as soon as old note stocks are depleted.

Courtesy of Andrew Roberts.

© 2009: Images may be freely reproduced.

Tags: Kenya

The most recent Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Volume III, 12th edition, lists four dates of Kenya’s 50 shilling-note as Pick 41a. However, significant differences have been discovered in this and other recent denominations from Kenya.

The note dated 2nd February 2004 (above, top) has a windowed security thread that is wider than the one on the note dated 1st April 2003 (above, bottom), and this thread appears further to the right. Furthermore, the 2nd February 2004 note also has the denomination “50” visible in the watermark area under normal reflected light. This electrotype watermark appears on all subsequent date varieties (2nd August 2004, 1st June 2005, and 1st April 2006), all of which have a signature combination that differs from that which appears on the first two date varieties (the Governor is the same; only the Member signatory differs).

It has been reported that all Kenyan notes from 2004 onwards have the denomination as electrotype watermarks. It is also reported that all Kenyan notes from 2005 onwards have watermarks of stripes in all four corners. If confirmed, De La Rue is the likely printer because Cornerstone watermarks are a DLR trademark.

Malawi’s 20- and 200-kwacha notes dated 2004 were given new Pick numbers due to the addition of the denomination to the watermark. If the same standard applies to Kenya, the notes dated 2004 onwards deserve their own Pick numbers, too.

Courtesy of Jose Manuel Peso (IBNS member 8180).

Tags: Kenya