Kenyan romance trend sparks warning from central bank

International

MONEY bouquet?

Roses made of cash may seem romantic, but in Kenya, such gestures risk turning love into a crime.

The Central Bank has issued a warning to couples against altering banknotes for gifts.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, authorities say the fashionable practice of shaping Kenyan shilling notes into floral arrangements is creating problems for the country’s currency.

In a statement released on Monday, the Central Bank of Kenya said the trend was contributing to the damage and early withdrawal of banknotes from circulation.

The bank explained that glue, pins, and staples commonly used to hold the bouquets together leave notes torn, stained, or perforated, making them difficult to process.

Damaged currency is more frequently rejected by counting machines and must be replaced at additional cost to the public and to the regulator.

The Central Bank stressed that while giving cash as a present is acceptable, the presentation should not involve any action that alters or defaces legal tender.

“Bunches of banknotes arranged into floral-like arrangements risk compromising the integrity of the currency,” the Central Bank said in a CNN report.

Kenyan law reinforces the warning. The Penal Code classifies the willful mutilation of currency, including defacing, tearing, or cutting notes, as a criminal offense punishable by up to three months in prison, a fine of up to 2,000 shillings, or both.

Similar concerns have surfaced elsewhere in Africa as elaborate cash gifting grows in popularity. In March 2023, Ghana’s central bank urged citizens to stop using cedi notes in hampers and bouquets, cautioning that the practice weakens the quality of money in circulation.

Nigerian authorities have also intensified efforts in recent years to curb the practice of spraying naira notes at weddings and celebrations.

For couples looking for a safer Valentine’s gesture, Kenya’s long established flower industry offers an obvious alternative.

The country exported $780 million worth of cut flowers in 2024, data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity shows, placing it behind only the Netherlands with $4.26 billion, Colombia with $1.42 billion, and Ecuador with $950 million.

The Observatory ranked flowers as Kenya’s third largest export after tea and refined petroleum, with roses alone accounting for more than 70 percent of industry revenue, about $552 million, highlighting the sector’s central role in the economy.(MyTVCebu)