The Central Bank of Kenya Governor Patrick Njoroge who unveiled the new currency notes on Madaraka Day in Narok maybe kissing his post goodbye.
The rise and fall of the CBK governor Mr. Njoroge came after his press briefing on Monday.
Patrick Njoroge insisted that the design and introduction of new banknotes followed due process and that they are ready to fight those opposed to it in court.
Patrick Njoroge (CBK governor): We have followed all the applicable laws to get to this point and in terms of quality of the notes we have tried listening to the public.
We involved the public in the designs of the notes and various features on it pic.twitter.com/Yj2ZtHy192
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 3, 2019
Njoroge dismissed those contesting the inclusion of the country’s founding president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s sculpture, saying that the key feature was the KICC.
He also defended the decision to do away with the old generation Sh1.000 notes, saying that it is not the first time Kenya is doing demonetisation.
Patrick Njoroge (CBK governor) on the issue of KICC on the Ksh.1000 notes pic.twitter.com/bH09Askdpz
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 3, 2019
But this harsh words especially the one which he was daring politicians to meet in court did not ogre well with some legislatures.
Former ODM legislature, who also adds up as Hon Raila Odinga’s cousin , Jakoyo Midiwo has called for resignation of Governor Patrick Njoroge for politicizing the new currency role out process.
want to address the CBK Governor, if you want to be a politician you should resign.
He should not be saying things that politicians say. – Jakoyo Midiwo #AMLiveNTV pic.twitter.com/LExMH5J6lI
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) June 4, 2019
Hon Jakoyo Midiwo has also faulted the CBK for acting to impede businesses in the country.
The work of Central Bank should not impede business. They shouldn’t insist on knowing what you do with your money, that is the work of KRA. – Jakoyo Midiwo #AMLiveNTV pic.twitter.com/hARHNzQg0e
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) June 4, 2019
The statue of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta has also continued to elicit a mixture of reactions from many legislatures. Most have argued that the CBK did not follow the right constitutional procedures before the role out.
New currency notes: Is it a portrait, an image or a statue of Jomo Kenyatta?
Those are semantics. You can’t play around with English words when the constitution is clear. – Jakoyo Midiwo #AMLiveNTV pic.twitter.com/wU38uv4yd3
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) June 4, 2019
However some other legislatures such as Hon Gladys Wanga have rubbished the latest arguments which are meant to hinder the role out process terming them as petty.
Gladys Wanga on KICC portrait: This issue has to be the most frivolous of all arguments; should we go and curve out the founding father’s sculpture out of KICC for it to pass?
Let us not trivialize this debate on the new currency #DayBreak@WaihigaMwaura @Zindzi_K pic.twitter.com/PDRmQX9HJ3
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 4, 2019
Earlier on, Activist Okiya Omtatah and EALA MP Simon Mbugua filed a petition to block the role out of the new currency stating that it did not follow proper constitutional procedures.