Since President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the new currency notes on Saturday during Madaraka Day clebrations in Narok, several leaders have been giving mixed reactions on the same.
Rarieda Member of Parliament Hon Otiende Amollo argues that the new currency notes are unconstitutional since they still bear the portrait of first President of Kenya Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
He says Article 231 is very clear and does not allow anyone’s portrait on the face of the notes or coins.
According to the lawmaker, the new notes show a clear representation of the founding father on all the notes which to me is wrong.
Otiende Amollo: The major issue is the image of the new notes; Article 231 is very clear and does not allow anyone’s portrait on the face of the notes or coins.
The new notes show a clear representation of the founding father on all the notes which to me is wrong #DayBreak pic.twitter.com/8Z7nCt3U45
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 3, 2019
Some arrests have been made since the Ksh 1000 notes were termed obsolete. Over the weekend, Samburu County driver was arrested ferrying Ksh 1 million in Ksh 1000 notes. He could however not account for the source and the intended use.
SAMBURU COUNTY Driver; Lejisaat Samuel Supuko, has been arrested with Ksh. 1,099,000 that he could NOT account for the source and the intended use. pic.twitter.com/UVwW0Krbus
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) June 2, 2019
However, Machakos County Governor Dr Alfred Mutua looks more worried. Since the directive was given by the state, Dr Mutua has been making numerous tweets and speeches, arguing that some people prefer keeping cash to banking. In some posts, he has been congratulating President Kenyatta for recalling the Ksh 1000 notes.
RECALLING OF KSHS. 1,000 NOTES WILL GIVE THIEVES SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
I congratulate President Uhuru Kenyatta for the unveiling of the new bank notes but even more for the October deadline of doing away with the current Ksh. 1,000 notes. pic.twitter.com/GVvL1RzTku
— Dr. Alfred Mutua (@DrAlfredMutua) June 2, 2019
Through a tweet he made on Monday early morning, Dr Mutua argued that Kenyans must acknowledge “some people keep SMALL amounts of legally obtained cash instead of banking it and should be allowed to change what they have to the new bills”.
“We must acknowledge some people keep SMALL amounts of legally obtained cash instead of banking it & should be allowed to change what they have to the new bills. It is not illegal to keep small amounts of CLEAN cash. However, LEADERS & their families should explain their CASH,” his tweet read.
We must acknowledge some people keep SMALL amounts of legally obtained cash instead of banking it & should be allowed to change what they have to the new bills. It is not illegal to keep small amounts of CLEAN cash. However, LEADERS & their families should explain their CASH. pic.twitter.com/GC6BbYUWlJ
— Dr. Alfred Mutua (@DrAlfredMutua) June 2, 2019
This has caused mixed reactions from Kenyans, with many asking him if there is something he is hiding. Here are some of the reactions from Kenyans on Twitter.
You are repeating this for the third time within 24hrs….
Are you telling us something? #SundayThoughts #KOT— Kanyi Gioko (@SirGioko) June 2, 2019
So, how small is this “small amounts of CLEAN cash” that you want to exchange? Let’s start there first.
— Vincent (@ItsOnyango) June 3, 2019
You had to crawl here at 3 in the morning to post this….. Your timing speaks volume
— GADDAFI (@daudiabdullahi1) June 3, 2019