We are aware that these streets ain’t safe no more. We never know whether to blame the system in place or Kenyans as individuals for the peculiar acts we carry out day in, day out. The Kenyan Government, through the Central Bank of Kenya, issued the new currency on 1 June in pursuit of the constitutional requirement.
All Kenyans should comply with the CBK directive on the rollout of the new currency. There are a few pointers we can appreciate about the new currency. The new notes are evenly colour-coded with different shades of colour that has a unique security feature. The notes also show Kenya’s rich culture and natural habitations.
Taxi driver in trouble after being found with fake new currency https://t.co/Sf7vTMSwHl
How can they manufacturer fake when I haven’t touched even the real one🙄 #CrazyKenyans #Fakenotes @Ma3Route pic.twitter.com/XwpWOZmglc
— Crazy Kenyans (@KenyansCrazy) June 14, 2019
So to keep you safe from getting conned, here are key security facts you need to watch out when new currency comes in handy.
- The Sh.50 note embraces a green energy, Sh.100 symbolizes Agriculture, Sh.200 has Social Culture and Sh.500 tourism while Sh.1000 shows governance on the notes appearances.
- When you handle the notes, you should be able to feel the word written as ‘KENYA’
- Also, touching the notes, one should be able to feel the value of the notes (Such as sh.50, sh.100, sh.200, sh.500 and sh.1000). With this unique feature, the blind can easily handle the cash with ease as opposed to the old generation.
- Raising the note against source of light such as the sun, one should be able to spot a lion on the note. The watermark of the currency, head of a lion and word ‘CBK’ should be seen.
- Also, a keen look at the notes reveals that the security thread appears as a continuous line
- The notes have different bars on their edges such that Sh.50 has one bar, Sh.100- 2 bars. sh.200 – 3 bars , Sh.500 – 4 bars and Sh.1000 has 5 bars.
- All the bank notes will change from red to green on their security threads when the notes are titled at a certain angle. Besides additional rainbow colours have been added on the threads of sh.200, sh.500 and sh.1000
- At the back of the notes, the golden band shows the value of the notes.
- The notes can easily be differentiated from the fake ones by either feeling them, titling or turning them back and front to observe the key security features.
I’m so scared this new currency nitapeleka kwa mama mboga anirudishie change fake.
— Mwihaki 🌸 (@Mwihakiii) June 8, 2019
With the recent speculation of the fake currency making rounds, the incidences pose a great threat by adding more suspicions among people regarding the safety and genuineness of the new currency with many business owners in remote marginalized areas refusing to transact using the new currency notes.