CBK Warns Kenyans Against Folding Money to Make Gifts, Bouquets of Flowers: “It’s a Criminal Offense”

• The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has issued a strong warning against the increasingly widespread practice of folding, freezing and stamping banknotes to make money flowers and decorative gifts
• The bank says the practice, which is often seen at weddings, birthday parties, and baby showers, defaces currency, damages important financial machines, and is a criminal offence.
• CBK has encouraged citizens to use non-destructive alternatives when giving monetary gifts in order to protect the dignity and quality of the national currency.

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has banned the innovative but costly practice of converting money into decorative gifts.

The administrator has declared that folding, stapling, or freezing coins for clusters is illegal and destroys the economy.

In a strong advisory, the administrator has highlighted that the common practice of preparing “money bouquets” and decorative displays undermines the quality of the Kenyan Shilling, leading to its early withdrawal from circulation at great cost to the public and banks.

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The CBK has emphasized that while giving money as a gift is fine, any act that alters, defaces, or weakens currency violates the law and disrupts the entire cash processing system.

Why Does CBK Care About Money Bunches?

The bank has seen an increase in celebratory arrangements where notes are carefully folded, folded, and tied with glue, tape, staples, or pins to create decorative gifts.

In particular, the administrator’s warning is considered timely due to the approaching Valentine’s day.

The CBK says that these devices cause physical damage to the currency, making the notes unfit for circulation.

Additionally, residual glue, metal pins, and thick layers of paper clog and interfere with Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), cash counting machines, and high-speed sorting equipment used by banks.

This leads to frequent machine breakdowns, an increase in banknote rejections during processing, and ultimately, the need to replace damaged currency earlier than its intended useful life, the cost of which is ultimately borne by the public.

What Does the Law Say About Destroying Coins?

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The CBK ad serves as a stark reminder that wasting money is not only ill-advised; it is a criminal act.

The bank specifically cited Section 367 of the Penal Code, which prohibits the destruction, mutilation, or defacement of any currency note issued by a valid authority.

“Any person who willfully destroys, mutilates, or in any way defaces any currency note… commits an offense under the Penal Code,” the announcement said, indicating that those who create these clusters could be liable for prosecution.

What are CBK’s Guidelines for the Public?

The central bank has urged the public to immediately stop practices that undermine the integrity of the currency structure.

While affirming that cash remains a perfectly acceptable gift, the CBK insists that it must be presented in a form that allows it to function freely as a medium of exchange, measure of value, and store of value.

The regulator advised Kenyans to “use non-destructive alternatives when delivering monetary gifts,” suggesting the use of envelopes, gift cards, or digital transfers instead.

The cost of constantly replacing damaged notes is straining public resources.

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The announcement is a form of public awareness, aimed at reducing socially acceptable practices that many may not know have legal and economic consequences.

How did Kenyans react to the CBK announcement?

TUKO.co.ke further reported that CBK’s announcement elicited mixed responses, reflecting gendered attitudes on traditional gifting practices and compliance with financial regulations.

Men and singles welcomed the warning, seeing it as an excuse to avoid buying expensive bouquets or as a victory over enviable gifts.

Kenyan women expressed their disappointment online after the CBK warned against making money bouquets, a popular and cute Valentine’s day gifting trend.

Many complained that the directive ruined their Valentine’s day expectations, joking that CBK would have to issue a warning after the holiday.

The CBK stressed that destroying or folding currency notes for bundles is illegal, as it undermines the integrity of the Kenyan currency.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke