The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has won the prestigious Global Banknote Award, earning international recognition for its latest currency design.
CBK was presented with the award during the High-Security Printing Conference for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (HSP-EMEA) - an event which highlights superior banknotes in the market.
The award recognises monetary authorities whose newly-issued banknotes have exhibited exceptional achievement in the design, technical sophistication, and security features.
CBK's feat came months after the release of currencies with new features which extended to the Ksh50, Ksh100, and Ksh200 as well as the Ksh500 notes in August 2024.
Among the new features included the signature of the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, Kamau Thugge, and the year of print. The new notes also included new security threads with colour-changing effects specific to each denomination.
While describing the banknote features which earned the CBK the award, the CBK said, "The three higher denominations – the KES 1000, 500 and 200 – utilise the ZigZag dynamic movement effect, while the two lower denominations – the KES 100 and 50 – utilise the Crystal effect."
"Additionally, the banknotes feature the use of iridescent bands with UV for each of the denominations, while dual colour fluorescence is also maintained as a secondary level security element against counterfeiting."
A distinct feature in the new notes which was previously not there is the signature of the National Treasury Principal Secretary, Chris Kiptoo, marking a departure from the previous notes, which did not include the PS's signature.
Speaking on the commendable feat, the CBK governor Dr. Kamau Thugge said this was a huge step in putting Kenyan banknotes on the world map.
"The award puts the Kenyan series of banknotes at the forefront of being appealing, secure and of world-class status. They utilise the latest technology to mitigate against counterfeiting, giving citizens assurance on the security of their currency." Thugge observed.
In 2024, The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) won two global awards for its 40th Anniversary $2 Commemorative Banknote, beating notes from 15 countries representing three continents including Africa, Asia and Central America.
The CBK's banknote award is quite remarkable, especially because the Kenyan banknotes beat that of other global powerhouses, including, The Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCRP), which is famous for its exquisite designs and technological features over the years.
