RismadarVoice Reporters
February 3, 2026
Kenya’s Central Bank (CBK) has warned members of the public against using banknotes to create decorative cash bouquets, describing the practice as defacing the national currency and a violation of existing laws.
In a statement issued on Monday and sighted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, the apex bank said individuals involved in the trend risk up to seven years’ imprisonment if arrested and convicted under Kenyan currency laws.
The cash bouquet trend, which has gained popularity in recent years, involves rolling, folding, and fastening banknotes of different denominations to resemble flower arrangements.
The decorations are often exchanged as gifts during celebrations, particularly in the run-up to Valentine’s Day, and have been widely promoted by celebrities and social media influencers.
CBK noted that the process of folding, rolling, gluing, stapling, taping, or pinning banknotes compromises their integrity and renders them unsuitable for circulation.
“The Central Bank of Kenya has observed a growing trend in the use of Kenyan shilling banknotes for decorative, celebratory purposes, including cash flower bouquets and ornamental displays,” the statement said.
It added that the use of adhesives, pins, and staples damages banknotes and interferes with the efficient operation of ATMs, cash-counting machines, and sorting equipment, leading to an increase in rejected notes and unnecessary replacement costs for both the public and financial institutions.
While clarifying that it does not oppose the use of cash as gifts, the CBK stressed that such use must not involve actions that alter, damage, or deface currency.
“Currency should remain in a condition that allows it to circulate freely and perform its intended functions as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value,” the bank stated.
The warning has generated mixed reactions online, with some Kenyans welcoming the directive and describing cash bouquets as an expensive and wasteful trend, especially given that Kenya is one of the world’s leading producers of fresh flowers.
