Kenya’s central bank has warned the public against using banknotes to create decorative cash bouquets, saying the practice constitutes defacing national currency and could carry severe penalties.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Tuesday, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) said individuals involved in the trend could face up to seven years in prison if arrested and convicted under existing laws governing the use of Kenyan currency.
The cash bouquet trend, which has gained popularity in recent years, involves rolling banknotes of different denominations and colors and fastening them together to resemble flower arrangements. These creations are often exchanged as gifts during celebrations, particularly around Valentine’s Day, and have been widely promoted by celebrities and social media influencers.
According to the CBK, folding, rolling, gluing, stapling, or pinning banknotes compromises their integrity and damages the currency.
“The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has noted a growing trend in the use of Kenyan shilling banknotes for decorative and celebratory purposes, including cash flower bouquets and other ornamental displays. Banknotes are often folded, rolled, glued, taped, stapled, pinned, or otherwise affixed using adhesives and fastening materials. Such practices compromise the integrity of the banknotes and render them unsuitable for circulation,” the statement read.
The bank added that the practice interferes with the operation of cash-handling and processing equipment, including ATMs, cash counting machines, and sorting devices, leading to an increase in rejected notes and unnecessary replacement costs for both the public and financial institutions.
While CBK clarified that it does not object to giving cash as a gift, it stressed that currency must remain in a condition suitable for circulation. “Currency should not be altered, damaged, or defaced, and must remain capable of performing its functions as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value,” the bank said.
Kenya is one of the world’s leading producers of flowers, and the announcement has been welcomed by some who argue that fresh floral bouquets are a more appropriate Valentine’s Day gift. The warning has also sparked mixed reactions online, with some users expressing relief over what they described as an expensive and wasteful trend.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated annually on February 14.
