The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) released new banknotes on Madaraka day a few days ago.
Most Kenyans who respect the constitution felt that the inclusion of Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) was a violation of the ‘no potraits’ on the currency.
But alas!
What most didn’t know is that the current Chief Minister, the Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang’i picture is also on the banknote.
A closer look at the Kshs. 200 denomination, shows a watermarked picture of Matiang’i with school kids.
This is a picture that was taken when he was still the CS for Education.
Yesterday, the CBK Governor Patrick Njoroge insisted that the new banknotes fulfilled all legal requirements including public participation.
But I don’t know which public participation stated that a civilian should be included in thr notes. Couldn’t they have used a silhouette of ‘no one’ as the current notes, especially the Kshs. 200 notes have on their backside.
I drafted Chapter12 of the Constitution. Kenyans debated but could not agree on which heroes deserved to be on the currency so they settled on none. The Kenyatta image offends that spirit. It is deliberate mischief, impunity and contempt for the people— the hallmarks of Uhuru. – David Ndii, Economist
Take a look.
Here is what Kenyans had to say:
So, we stopped this low to the point of having a picture of Matiang'i on our currency? What is wrong with this country? I hadn't seen this until I zoomed in. pic.twitter.com/jCTWeLHt12
— Alenga Torosterdt (@MzalendoAlenga) June 4, 2019
