The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has officially begun releasing redesigned currency banknotes for denominations of Sh50, Sh100, Sh200, and Sh500.

The new notes, which include improved security enhancements, will circulate alongside existing ones.

"We wish to update the public that the release of KES 50, KES 100, KES 200 and KES 500 denominations is now in progress," CBK said in a statement.

This latest move follows an earlier CBK announcement made on August 6, 2024, which outlined the specific updates incorporated into the revised banknotes.

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These include the signatures of Dr. Kamau Thugge, the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, and Dr Chris Kiptoo, the Principal Secretary of the National Treasury.

Additionally, the notes bear the year of print, 2024, and feature new colour-changing security threads unique to each denomination.

CBK further clarified that the rollout commenced earlier this year with the Sh1,000 banknote and is now expanding to other denominations.

It emphasised that, apart from the updates listed, “all other features of the banknotes remain the same as those of the series issued in 2019.”

The Bank reassured the public that all previously issued banknotes remain valid, stating, “all other banknotes currently in circulation remain legal tender and will continue to circulate alongside the released banknotes.”

For more information, the CBK has directed members of the public to access detailed descriptions of the banknotes on its official website, www.centralbank.go.ke.

This step by CBK seeks to bolster trust in Kenya’s currency while enhancing its resilience against counterfeiting.