Central Bank of Kenya warns that altering banknotes for cash bouquets is illegal and punishable under the law
Katlego Sekhu
Kenya’s central bank has moved to put a stop to the growing trend of using banknotes in cash bouquets, warning that the practice could land people on the wrong side of the law, just as Valentine’s Day approaches.
In a public notice issued on 2 February 2026, the Central Bank of Kenya noted that it had noticed an increase in the folding, rolling, stamping, and gluing of Kenyan shilling notes for ornamental purposes.
According to the bank, this kind of handling damages banknotes and makes them unfit for circulation. It also disrupts the country’s cash infrastructure, including ATMs and currency processing systems that rely on notes being in good physical condition.
The central bank pointed to the Penal Code, which classifies the deliberate mutilation, defacing, or impairment of currency issued by a lawful authority as a criminal offence. Such actions can carry serious consequences, including possible imprisonment.
While the bank made it clear that giving money as a gift is perfectly legal, it stressed that currency should not be altered in ways that stop it from circulating or fulfilling its core purpose as money.
On Friday morning, the Siz The World team weighed in on what to make of the Kenyan Government’s ban of cash bouquets ahead of Valentine’s Day.
Listen to the full discussion on the podcast.
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