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Kenyan authorities have cautioned the public against using Kenyan shilling banknotes to make cash flower bouquets and other decorative gifts in preparation for Valentine’s Day.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) said in a statement on Tuesday that it had observed a growing trend of banknotes being used for celebratory displays, especially during festive periods.
The bank said that in many cases, notes are “folded, rolled, glued, taped, stapled, pinned, or otherwise affixed using adhesives and fastening materials.”
CBK added that such actions compromise the integrity of Kenyan shilling banknotes and render them unsuitable for circulation.
According to the CBK, the use of adhesives, pins and staples on banknotes “damages banknotes and interferes with the efficient operation of cash-handling and processing equipment, including automated teller machines (ATMs), cash counting machines, and sorting equipment.”
Such damage results in higher processing rejection rates and leads to banknotes being withdrawn and replaced earlier than necessary, “at an avoidable cost to the public and the Bank,” the central bank warned.
“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,” it added.
“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.”
When presenting financial gifts, CBK advises the public to avoid actions that jeopardise the integrity of Kenyan shilling banknotes and to use non-destructive alternatives.
